Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Templeman
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided October 16, 1978PublishedCited by 18 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtBraucher, J.
We are asked to consider the constitutionality of G. L. c. 272, § 53, so far as it imposes criminal sanctions on "lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior.” To avoid the defendant’s claim that the statute is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, we attempt to make it constitutionally definite by giving it a reasonable construction. As we construe it, it does not apply to the defendant, and we reverse his conviction. We affirm his conviction under G. L. c. 272, § 16.
*534After a jury trial, the defendant was acquitted of rape but convicted of "open and gross lewdness and…
2Cases cited20 opinions
- Alegata v. CommonwealthMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1967
- Kuklis v. CommonwealthMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1972
- Commonwealth v. a JuvenileMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1975
- Commonwealth v. OrlandoMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1977
- Commonwealth v. KingMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1977
15 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by18 opinions
- O'BRIEN v. BorowskiMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2012
- Commonwealth v. AdamsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1983
- Commonwealth v. ChouMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2001
- Commonwealth v. SefrankaMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1980
- Commonwealth v. WelchMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2005
13 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.