Ray v. Commonwealth

Ray has been indicted for murder and is awaiting trial. The Commonwealth sought and obtained from a judge in the Superior Court a protective order that, for security reasons, bars defense counsel from disclosing to Ray (and others not involved in Ray’s legal representation) the names or addresses of civilian witnesses identified in discovery materials. Ray objected to the issuance of the order on the ground that it effectively precludes counsel from preparing a defense. Ray pressed the same claim in his G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition.

The case is now before us pursuant to S.J.C. Rule 2:21, as…