Suffolk Law School in Boston - Suffolk University

Archived Video

The archive contains case video beginning with the 2019-2020 court year. Recent arguments are arranged by date below. Use "Search Archive" to find a specific case, or to pull up multiple cases matching your search criteria.

The Supreme Judicial Court removed older oral arguments from the archive, covering court years 2005-2006 to 2018-2019, after weighing the light concentration of traffic seeking access to these older cases against the substantial cost of maintaining it. The Supreme Judicial Court is currently studying alternative options to again make those older oral arguments available to the public.

For questions regarding the archive, please contact the Office of the Clerk for the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth (SJCWebCastArchive@jud.state.ma.us).

Summaries have been prepared by Suffolk University Law School. The summaries are not an official part of the court proceedings, and are presented so that those who access the website will have a general understanding of the legal issues in the cases set for oral argument.

The archive contains case video beginning with the 2019-2020 court year.
The Supreme Judicial Court removed older oral arguments from the archive, covering court years 2005-2006 to 2018-2019, after weighing the light concentration of traffic seeking access to these older cases against the substantial cost of maintaining it. The Supreme Judicial Court is currently studying alternative options to again make those older oral arguments available to the public.

For questions regarding the archive, please contact the Office of the Clerk for the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth (SJCWebCastArchive@jud.state.ma.us).

The summaries are not an official part of the court proceedings.

RECENT ARGUMENTS

Jan. 2021

Deweese-Boyd v. Gordon College

Docket: SJC-12988
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Employment Law-- In this employment discrimination action, a faculty member claims that she was denied promotion because of her opposition to the college's policies and practices; whether the college is entitled to assert a ministerial exception defense.

Osborne-Trussell v. Children's Hospital Corp.

Docket: SJC-12991
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Employment Law-- Whether an employee has stated a viable claim that her employer terminated her employment upon being informed that the employee had a harassment protection order.

Commonwealth v. Davis

Docket: SJC-12998
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Criminal-- The Commonwealth is appealing a Superior Court order granting the defendant, convicted of murder in 1986, a new trial based on postconviction DNA evidence.

Commonwealth v. Gumkowski

Docket: SJC-12670
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12908
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Unavailable

Governo Law Firm LLC v. Bergeron

Docket: SJC-12948
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Business Litigation; Law Firms-- Various matters arising out of a civil action by a law firm against former employees of the firm claiming that the defendants engaged in unfair or deceptive business practices by taking files and data belonging to the law firm.

Commonwealth v. JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Docket: SJC-12973
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Business Litigation-- This action by a private person under the Massachusetts False Claims Act seeks to redress alleged fraud against the Commonwealth by banks involving marketing of tax-exempt bonds.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12986
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Hinds

Docket: SJC-12953
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Town of Brookline v. Alston

Docket: SJC-12974
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Administrative Law-- The Town of Brookline is appealing a Superior Court judgment affirming a Civil Service Commission decision that ordered reinstatement of a firefighter who claimed that he had been terminated because of racial bias on the part of his employer.

Massachusetts Port Authority v. Turo Inc.

Docket: SJC-13012
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Business Litigation-- The Massachusetts Port Authority is claiming that the defendant, which operates an online platform arranging peer-to-peer car rental transactions, is engaged in an unauthorized car rental business at Logan Airport.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13011
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Medina

Docket: SJC-12987
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Probation-- Various issues regarding whether the probation of the defendant, who had been convicted of sex offenses, had terminated.

Commonwealth v. Witkowski

Docket: SJC-12717
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Dec. 2020

Town of Concord v. Littleton Water Department

Docket: SJC-12947
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Land Use; Water Rights-- This is an appeal of a Land Court decision regarding water rights in a pond located in the towns of Littleton and Acton.

Commonwealth v. Gonzalez

Docket: SJC-12936
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a murder prosecution, the Commonwealth is appealing a Superior Court order allowing a motion to suppress statements.

Commonwealth v. Trotto

Docket: SJC-11930
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Caldwell

Docket: SJC-12907
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant is appealing the denial of a motion for new trial after a conviction of rape, claiming newly discovered evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Attorney General v. Facebook Inc.

Docket: SJC-12946
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: Business Litigation; Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product-- Whether the Massachusetts Attorney General may require Facebook to produce information gathered through an internal investigation by counsel; the investigation was conducted to assess Facebook's legal risk after a third party obtained personal data involving Facebook users.

Commonwealth v. Caliz

Docket: SJC-12932
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: Criminal; Jail Credit-- Whether the defendant is entitled to jail credit for days he was incarcerated where certain prior convictions were vacated because of misconduct at a state drug laboratory.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12933
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: unavailable

Commonwealth v. Concepcion

Docket: SJC-12382
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Moore v. Executive Office of the Trial Court Administration (Reserve Case)

Docket: SJC-12966
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- A Superior Court Assistant Clerk-Magistrate is seeking review of a trial court decision suspending her without pay after her indictment for federal criminal offenses.

Garcia v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12863
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Criminal Responsibility-- Where the defendant was found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility for carjacking and related offenses, whether the judge's order hospitalizing the defendant involuntarily violated the defendant's due process rights.

Diaz v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13009
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Motion to Suppress Hearing; COVID-19-- In a drug prosecution, whether an evidentiary hearing on the defendant's motion to suppress may be held by video conference over the defendant's objection.

Commonwealth v. Rodriguez-Nieves

Docket: SJC-12307
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Nov. 2020

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless v. City of Fall River

Docket: SJC-12914
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Constitutional Law; Panhandling Statute-- Homeless persons are challenging the Panhandling Statute, claiming that it is violative of free speech protections under both the United States and Massachusetts Constitutions.

Commonwealth v. Delgado-Rivera

Docket: SJC-12919
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Search and Seizure-- Where the defendant sent a text message to a third person, whether the defendant has standing to challenge a warrantless search of the third person's cellphone in a drug prosecution; whether the defendant has a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding the contents of the text message that was received by the third person.

Commonwealth v. Montarvo

Docket: SJC-12905
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Criminal; Sentencing-- The defendant, convicted of assault-related charges, is appealing his sentence as a habitual criminal.

Commonwealth v. Velez

Docket: SJC-11503
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Abuzahra v. City of Cambridge

Docket: SJC-12920
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Eminent Domain-- Whether a landowner may challenge the validity of an eminent domain taking after accepting a pro tanto award for the taking.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12967
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: Unavailable

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12964
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: unavailable

Sullivan v. Five Acres Realty Trust

Docket: SJC-12934
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: Sale of Real Estate; Torts-- The defendants are appealing a jury verdict for the plaintiffs in a damage action involving defects in a home that the defendants renovated and sold to the plaintiffs.

Commonwealth v. Martinez

Docket: SJC-12393
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Henley

Docket: SJC-12951
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Zachery

Docket: SJC-12952
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Criminal; Search and Seizure-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction, including the propriety of a warrantless search involving information contained in defendant's MBTA Charlie Card used for public transportation.

Fitzpatrick v. Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers of New York, Inc.

Docket: SJC-12937
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Torts; Civil Practice-- In this damage action against a restaurant, the issue is whether the trial judge was correct in granting a mistrial on the basis of improper closing argument by the plaintiff.

Commonwealth v. Pearson

Docket: SJC-12930
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Search and Seizure-- Whether the trial judge erred in denying a motion to suppress evidence obtained during a warrantless entry into the defendant's home.

Commonwealth v. Chalue

Docket: SJC-12457
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Comments For Justice Lenk

Docket: SJC-CommentsForJusticeLenk
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: .

The Honorable Ruth I. Abrams Memorial Sitting

Docket: SJC-AbramsMemorialSitting
Argued: 2020-11-12
Summary:

2:00 - 3:00 pm.

Oct. 2020

Doull v. Foster

Docket: SJC-12921
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: Medical Malpractice-- Various issues arising out of a medical malpractice action where there was a jury verdict for the defendants, including whether the trial judge's instructions on causation were correct.

Estate of Kendall v. MassHealth

Docket: SJC-12881
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: Decedents' Estates; Creditors' Rights-- Whether MassHealth is entitled to recover Medicaid benefits paid to a decedent where the claim was made more than three years after the date of death.

Racine v. Commissioner of Department of Correction

Docket: SJC-12895
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: Prisoners; Medical Parole-- Various issues regarding the denial of a prisoner's request for medical parole, including whether the death of the prisoner renders judicial proceedings moot.

Harmon v. Commissioner of Department of Correction

Docket: SJC-12876
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: Prisoners; Medical Parole-- Various issues regarding the denial of a prisoner's request for medical parole, including whether the death of the prisoner renders judicial proceedings moot.

Malloy v. Department of Correction

Docket: SJC-12961
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: Prisoners; Medical Parole-- Where a prisoner is granted medical parole, must the prisoner be released or may the prisoner continue to be held until the Department of Correction presents a medical parole plan?

Commonwealth v. Brea

Docket: SJC-12753
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Remarks On Passing Of CJ Gants

Docket: SJC-LenkRemarksOnPassingOfCJGants
Argued: 2020-10-05
Summary: .

Commonwealth v. Watkins

Docket: SJC-12799
Argued: 2020-10-07
Summary: Criminal-- In a case involving a 1976 murder conviction, the Commonwealth is appealing an order allowing the defendant's motion for new trial. 

Commonwealth v. Watkins

Docket: SJC-12969
Argued: 2020-10-07
Summary: Criminal-- Where the Commonwealth is appealing an order allowing the defendant's motion for new trial after a 1976 murder conviction, the defendant is seeking a stay of execution of sentence during the pendency of the Commonwealth's appeal.

Guilfoil v. Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Docket: SJC-12922
Argued: 2020-10-07
Summary: MassHealth Benefits; Nominee Trust-- Where an applicant for MassHealth long-term care benefits had a beneficial interest in a real estate nominee trust consisting of a life estate, whether the total value of the trust property is a countable asset to determine eligibility for benefits.

Commonwealth v. Tate

Docket: SJC-12133
Argued: 2020-10-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Matter of Zankowski

Docket: SJC-12850
Argued: 2020-10-07
Summary: Bar Discipline-- Bar Counsel is appealing a decision of a Single Justice suspending an attorney from the practice of law for six months and is requesting a harsher disposition.

Heath-Latson v. Styller

Docket: SJC-12917
Argued: 2020-10-09
Summary: Torts-- This wrongful death action concerns the liability of a homeowner who engaged in short-term rentals of his personal residence arising out of a shooting that occurred at a college reunion party during a rental.

Styler v. Lynnfield Zoning Board of Appeals

Docket: SJC-12901
Argued: 2020-10-09
Summary: Zoning-- A homeowner is appealing a decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals upholding a cease and desist order that prohibited the homeowner from engaging in short-term rentals of his personal residence.

Psychemedics Corp. v. City of Boston

Docket: SJC-12903
Argued: 2020-10-09
Summary: Contracts-- This is a contract dispute between the City of Boston and a vendor arising out of hair drug testing services provided to the Boston Police Department.

Commonwealth v. Watson

Docket: SJC-12616
Argued: 2020-10-09
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Adams Awards Ceremony

Docket: SJC-PRO-BONO-AWARDS
Argued: 2020-10-28
Summary:

Adams Awards Ceremony October 28, 2020. 4:00 - 5:30 PM.

Sep. 2020

Commonwealth v. Nash

Docket: SJC-12976
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Criminal Sentence; COVID-19-- The defendant, convicted of sexual offenses and sentenced to state prison, is seeking a stay of execution of sentence due to COVID-19 while his appeal is pending.

Commonwealth v. Elibert

Docket: SJC-12990
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Criminal Sentence; COVID-19-- The defendant, convicted of indecent assault and battery and sentenced to state prison, is seeking a stay of execution of sentence due to COVID-19 while his appeal is pending.

Doherty v. Massachusetts Civil Service Commission

Docket: SJC-12855
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Civil Service Law-- Various issues arising out of a Civil Service Commission hearing involving discipline of a state trooper, including whether it was error for the Commission to close the hearing to the public.

Commonwealth v. Terrell

Docket: SJC-12915
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Juvenile Law-- Whether a judge may order credit for time spent in pretrial detention where a juvenile has been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm as a youthful offender.

Commonwealth v. Lopez

Docket: SJC-12916
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Juvenile Law-- Whether a judge may order credit for time spent in pretrial detention where a juvenile has been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm as a youthful offender.

Blake v. Hometown America Communities, Inc.

Docket: SJC-12902
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Manufactured Housing Community-- Various issues arising out of a class action by residents of a manufactured housing community regarding the propriety of rental charges to tenants.

Roberts v. Hingham District Court

Docket: SJC-12854
Argued: 2020-09-09
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition seeks dismissal of a criminal complaint against the petitioner and an order compelling issuance of criminal complaints against police officers and assistant district attorneys.

Kauders v. Uber Technologies Inc.

Docket: SJC-12883
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Contracts; Arbitration-- Whether the plaintiff's claims for damages against Uber arising out of denial of ride services must be arbitrated by reason of an agreement that was part of the Uber Rider Application registration process.

Commonwealth v. Ramos-Cabrera

Docket: SJC-12900
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant, convicted of distribution of heroin within one hundred feet of a public park, is claiming that the area in question was not a public park.

Commonwealth v. Boger

Docket: SJC-12878
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant, convicted of distribution of heroin within one hundred feet of a public park, is claiming that the area in question was not a public park.

Dinkins v. Massachusetts Parole Board

Docket: SJC-12882
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Parole-- This case deals with a regulation involving the calculation of a parole eligibility date for a defendant whose sentence to a prison term runs consecutively with a life sentence.

D'Allesandro v. Lennar Hingham Holdings, LLC

Docket: SJC-12891
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Civil Procedure; Statute of Repose-- The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts has certified to the Supreme Judicial Court a question involving the statute of repose in a damage action alleging design and construction defects in a condominium development.

Commonwealth v. Falcone

Docket: SJC-12833
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Superintendence Petition; Bail-- The defendant, charged with open and gross lewdness, is seeking relief with regard to bail and an order imposing GPS monitoring and home confinement.

Impounded

Docket: SJC-12849
Argued: 2020-09-10
Summary: Summary unavailable

Desrosiers v. Governor

Docket: SJC-12983
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Governor's COVID-19 Emergency Orders-- This is a challenge by certain businesses, schools, and religious organizations to the legality of Governor Baker's COVID-19 emergency orders.

Commonwealth v. Snow

Docket: SJC-12938
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Search and Seizure-- This is an appeal from the allowance of a motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a warrant authorizing the search of the defendant's cell phone.

Commonwealth v. Feliz

Docket: SJC-12879
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Probation; Search and Seizure-- The defendant, convicted of possession and dissemination of child pornography, contends that a term of probation allowing random searches of his electronic devices is an unconstitutional search under the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.

Rahim v. District Attorney for Suffolk District

Docket: SJC-12884
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Public Records-- The plaintiff is seeking documents from the District Attorney relating to an investigation into the shooting and death of the plaintiff's son in a confrontation involving a joint terrorism task force consisting of Boston police and the FBI.

Dunn v. Genzyme Corp.

Docket: SJC-12904
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Torts; Civil Procedure-- In a personal injury action against the manufacturer of a medical device, the defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to dismiss, arguing that federal law preempts the state law claim.

Ardaneh v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12852
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Summary unavailable

Commonwealth v. Nieves

Docket: SJC-12906
Argued: 2020-09-11
Summary: Parole Supervision Fees-- This case deals with a defendant's request for refund of parole supervision fees she paid in light of the subsequent invalidation of her drug conviction.

Commonwealth v. Jackson

Docket: SJC-11341
Argued: 2020-09-14
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Williams

Docket: SJC-12378
Argued: 2020-09-14
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Teixeira

Docket: SJC-11279
Argued: 2020-09-14
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Colas

Docket: SJC-12701
Argued: 2020-09-14
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Aug. 2020

Grossman v. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Docket: SJC-12996
Argued: 2020-08-24
Summary: Elections; COVID-19-- This emergency petition seeks relief from the requirement that primary election ballots must be received by local officials by September 1, 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the anticipated increase in the number of mail-in ballots.

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