Gagnon

The petitioners, whose motion for the appointment of counsel on appeal was allowed, argue that their continued confinement at the Massachusetts Treatment Center violates their rights to equal protection and due process because the principles underlying their original commitments are “faulty” and the commitments are invalid. They also contend that our opinion in Commonwealth v. Tate, 424 Mass. 236 (1997), is not dispositive. We affirm the dismissal of the petition.

The petitioners contend that their State and Federal equal protection rights are violated because the repeal of portions of G. L.…