Commonwealth v. Hanson

Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of possession of “crack” cocaine with intent to distribute, distribution of crack cocaine, and an accompanying school zone violation. See G. L. c. 94C, §§ 32A, 32E, and 32J. The Commonwealth concedes that there was a constitutional confrontation clause error in the introduction, at trial, of certificates of drug analysis (drug certificates); that the error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, see Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, *234129 S. Ct. 2527 (2009); Commonwealth v. Vasquez, 456 Mass. 350, 360 (2010); and that, accordingly, the…