Molari Law Insights
Massachusetts Legal Developments Blog
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Written Bomb Threat Not a Predicate Offense Leading to Pretrial Detention in Massachusetts
In March of 2026, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided that a written bomb threat did not constitute a predicate offense under the “force clause,” and therefore pretrial detention was not justified. Under the state’s force clause, only certain…
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Some Say ShotSpotter Could Have Stopped a Fourth of July Shooting in Cambridge: But How Reliable Is It?
On July 4, 2026, the City of Cambridge announced that a Public Works employee had died in a Fourth of July shooting. Police subsequently arrested a suspect who reportedly acted as a lookout while other masked men attacked the victim. The other individuals are…
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Massachusetts Special Projects Unit Warns of “Extremely Racist” Comments by Police
Although many people are probably already aware that some police officers in Massachusetts have controversial views, a recent criminal case has exposed the degree to which these views permeate law enforcement. Although this specific controversy only involves…
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Defendants Denied Bail After Spending Five Years Behind Bars With No Conviction
Three defendants facing murder charges in Massachusetts will remain behind bars, despite going through five years of incarceration without actual convictions. At one point, it seemed as though a judge was willing to release them after a scandal hit the law…
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Alvin Campbell, Brother of Massachusetts Attorney General, Found Guilty of Rape
On June 11, 2026, WHDH reported that the brother of Massachusetts’ attorney general had been found guilty of 21 counts of rape, kidnapping, and indecent assault. This was one of the most high-profile criminal trials of recent memory, and it shows that…
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Massachusetts Supreme Court Finally Vacates Drug Conviction After 24-Hour Delay in Carrying Out Traffic Stop
In April 2026, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts finally vacated a drug conviction that was based on a traffic stop with an “unreasonable” 24-hour delay. Although this traffic stop clearly violated the defendant’s 4th and 14th Amendment Rights, his…
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Boston Defense Attorney Demands to Know How the Authorities Got His Client’s DNA
In February of 2026, a Boston defense attorney raised concerns about how the authorities managed to gain possession of her client’s DNA. This attorney is representing a man accused of attacking various female victims more than a decade ago, and her defense…
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Commonwealth Decides That Armed Robbery With “Minimal Force” Does Not Lead to Pretrial Detention
In March of 2026, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts decided that since armed robbery may involve “minimal force,” it does not necessarily need to lead to pretrial detention. This decision has major implications for defendants in Massachusetts, and…
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Forgotten DUI Crash Destroys Credibility of Investigator in Boston Murder Trial
One of the most obvious defense strategies in a Boston murder trial is to attack the credibility of the law enforcement officers tasked with investigating the crime. These allegations are often fully justified, as many law enforcement officers have committed…
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Commonwealth Gets Second Chance After Failing to Present Drug Evidence
Physical drug evidence is often crucial for prosecutors attempting to secure convictions. But what happens if they can’t present the evidence? In at least one case, this failure to present evidence caused a trial judge to dismiss charges against someone…
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Defendant Successfully Appeals Serious Convictions Based on Unlawful Exit Order
In Massachusetts, an “exit order” is exactly what it sounds like. Simply put, it is when a police officer tells you to get out of your car. Although you might assume that a police officer always has the authority to order you around in this manner, this is…
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Can the Court Deny Your Bail in Boston if You Commit a Crime While in Custody?
Defendants often react badly after the authorities arrest and incarcerate them, and for obvious reasons. A prison or jail is an undeniably dangerous place, and many prisoners have had to defend themselves against violent inmates over the years. However,…
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The Concepts of “Resende” and Obiter Dictum: How Do They Affect Gun Charges in Boston?
As most defendants know, criminal penalties tend to become progressively more serious as you receive more convictions on your record. This applies to gun charges, and the existence of prior charges on your record can increase your sentence significantly. An…
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Minnesota Governor Under Investigation for Violating Federal Conspiracy Statute
In January of 2026, multiple sources reported that the Justice Department was investigating the Minnesota Governor for allegedly violating a conspiracy statute . Other state officials, including the Mayor of Minneapolis, are also reportedly under…
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Boston Federal Judge Accuses Government of Violating Constitution
The First Amendment is arguably the most important part of the Constitution, as it allows the people to criticize the government without fear of retribution. Without free speech, there is not much separating the United States from a dictatorship. Previously,…
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Appellate Court Finds Insufficient Evidence That Defendant Used Snapchat to Violate Protective Order in Massachusetts
In January of 2026, an appellate court in Massachusetts concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that a defendant had used Snapchat to violate his protective order. This case highlights the fact that it is very easy to impersonate other people…
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Child Rape Charge Reversed Due to Indictment Error in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts appeals court has reversed a child rape conviction due to an error during the indictment process. In January of 2026, the court considered the permissibility of amending an indictment to change the subsection of a statute. In the end, they…
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NFL Player Faces Domestic Battery Charges After Allegedly Assaulting His Chef
In late December of 2025, CBS News reported that a well-known NFL player was facing charges of domestic battery after allegedly putting his personal chef in a chokehold. While the player vehemently denies these allegations, the case could affect his…
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Governor’s Staffer Somehow Paid Over $30,000 After Cocaine Possession Charges
The government and residents of Massachusetts are still trying to figure out how a staffer received a payout of $30,000 after being fired for allegedly trafficking cocaine. The story raises difficult questions about the Governor’s connection to a man who…
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Hit-and-Run Case in Boston: Defendant Pleads Insanity in the Face of Premeditation Allegations
In January of 2026, NBC Boston reported that a well-known art collector had died in a hit-and-run crash. The man’s dog also perished. The driver now faces allegations of murder and animal cruelty, with authorities alleging that this was an intentional ramming…