Commonwealth v. Darch

The defendant was convicted by a District Court jury of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor in violation of G. L. c. 90, § 24. Her appeal focuses on the question whether she received effective representation in view of trial counsel’s alleged failure to vigorously pursue a defense of lack of criminal responsibility based on involuntary intoxication.

On November 9, 1997, Officer Robert Mansfield found the defendant seated behind the wheel of her car, which apparently had struck another vehicle. The other vehicle was partially on the lawn of 62 South Street in…