Commonwealth v. Hunt

Donald Brisson appeals from an order of the Superior Court finding him in civil contempt for failing to produce certain documents pursuant to Mass.R.Crim.P. 17(a)(2), 378 Mass. 885 (1979). Brisson is an attorney who was representing four potential witnesses who were cooperating with the Commonwealth in the pending murder charges against the defendant, Derek Hunt. Counsel for the defendant asked for permission to subpoena the documents, and the judge ordered them produced; when Brisson refused to turn them over, he was found in contempt. We vacate the order of contempt.

Background. The…