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Criminal defense bar calls SJC case cautionary tale
Criminal defense lawyers say that a recent Supreme Judicial Court decision will lead many practitioners to advise that their clients no longer agree to having indictments placed on file. Massachusetts is the only state in the country that still recognizes the practice of filing indictments, which effectively results in a sentence being suspended indefinitely. The SJC case, Commonwealth v. Simmons (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-058-07), involved a nearly 200-year-old law that gives prosecutors the ability, at any time, to resurrect cases for sentencing that had previously been filed without a disposition. The defendant had argued that removing a case placed on file five years earlier, and sentencing him for those offenses, violated his due process rights and was contrary to long-standing Trial Court practice.
Massachusetts Governor Patrick Announces Immediate Action To ...
April 25, 2007 -- BOSTON - Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - Governor Deval L. Patrick announced today both immediate regulatory action and proposed legislation to assist families facing home foreclosures. The announcement of these proposals - based on the recommendations of the recent Mortgage Summit Group report - was made at the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations' (MACDC) Legislative Action Day. "It is vital that we have an effective and immediate action plan in place to help homeowners facing foreclosures," said Governor Patrick. "Addressing this problem requires a comprehensive approach that provides for greater education and information for consumers before securing a mortgage; more robust regulatory controls over brokers and lenders; a more responsive legal framework for homeowners facing foreclosure, and clear consequences for those who engage in mortgage fraud." Initiatives announced include: * Immediately bolstering the state's efforts on consumer assistance and education for homeowners who may be facing foreclosure, including: an enhanced hotline; a new awareness campaign; and referrals to reputable foreclosure counselors and lenders willing to be of assistance.
Starting over or starting better?
April 30, San Francisco Chronicle: "It's going to be nice playing in front of our fans," Sharks captain Patrick Marleau said. "It's going to be loud and exciting. We've got to take care of our work at home." Historically, if the Sharks win a majority of their home playoff games in a series, they advance. San Jose has won eight Stanley Cup playoff series, and in seven of those, the Sharks won more games at home than they lost. Only in 1995 against Calgary in the first round did San Jose manage to advance while going 1-2 at home. ... "I think we feel pretty confident about the way we've played. We play great at home and I think we played well in (Detroit)," coach Ron Wilson said. "We're limiting scoring chances. We have had a lot of scoring chances." ... "We have to keep pushing the pace," Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov said.
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