Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Ruiz
Massachusetts Appeals Court
Decided June 3, 1986PublishedCited by 7 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtKaplan, J.
We reverse this conviction and remand for a new trial because of the omission of the trial judge to consider in discretion whether or to what extent prior criminal convictions of the defendant should be admitted to impeach his cred-bility as a witness. We discuss certain factors that may enter into a ruling on this question by the trial judge when the case is retried.
The complaining witness, whom we shall call Rose Croly, driving to her home in Taunton about 4:30 a.m., August 27, 1983, thought she recognized and was acquainted with a man standing on the side of the road. She offered him a…
2Cases cited16 opinions
- Morris W. Gordon v. United StatesCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1967
- United States v. Tyrone Smith, United States of America v. Anthony E. GartrellCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1976
- People v. FriesCalifornia Supreme Court · 1979
- Commonwealth v. ChaseMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1977
- United States v. Michael A. LipscombCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1983
11 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by7 opinions
- Commonwealth v. HarrisMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2005
- Commonwealth v. SmithMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1988
- Commonwealth v. RuizMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1987
- Commonwealth v. PrestonMassachusetts Appeals Court · 1989
- Commonwealth v. ManningMassachusetts Appeals Court · 1999
2 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.