Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Sefranka
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided December 15, 1980PublishedCited by 55 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtHennessey, C.J.
The defendant Edward J. Sefranka was convicted in the Superior Court in the county of Plymouth for being a “lewd, wanton and lascivious person in speech or behavior” in violation of G. L. c. 272, § 53. He appeals on the ground that the words on which the conviction was based are protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and art. 16 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. The statute is also challenged as unconstitutionally vague. We reverse the conviction.
The facts are not in dispute. As detailed in the police report, which formed the statement of agreed facts…
2Cases cited23 opinions
- Connally v. General Construction Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1926
- Papachristou v. City of JacksonvilleSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Smith v. GoguenSupreme Court of the United States · 1974
- Gooding v. WilsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Pryor v. Municipal CourtCalifornia Supreme Court · 1979
18 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by55 opinions
- Commonwealth v. AdamsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- Commonwealth v. ChouMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2001
- Commonwealth v. KwiatkowskiMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1994
- Commonwealth v. WelchMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2005
- Commonwealth v. FergusonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1981
50 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.