Legal Opinion
Three Juveniles v. Commonwealth
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided November 7, 1983PublishedCited by 51 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtWilkins, J.
We are presented for the first time with the question whether a minor child may be compelled to appear and to testify, over the objection of both the child and the child’s parents, before a grand jury that is investigating the possible murder of a nonfamily member by the child’s father. We conclude that, in these circumstances, a minor child has no privilege to refuse to appear. Further, the child has no privilege to refuse to testify as to what he may have seen or heard, except perhaps as to confidential communications between the child and the parents, a question we need not decide on this…
2Cases cited20 opinions
- United States v. NixonSupreme Court of the United States · 1974
- Elkins v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1960
- Branzburg v. HayesSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Trammel v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1980
- United States v. BryanSupreme Court of the United States · 1950
15 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by51 opinions
- United States v. Patricia Davies and Martin KaprelianCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1985
- Cronin v. StrayerMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1984
- In Re Grand Jury ProceedingsCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 1997
- Purcell v. District Attorney for Suffolk DistrictMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1997
- Doe v. Sex Offender Registry BoardMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2011
46 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.