Legal Opinion
Commonwealth v. Repoza
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided July 23, 1987PublishedCited by 70 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtAbrams, J.
The question is whether Francis v. Franklin, 471 U.S. 307 (1985), requires us to grant the defendant’s request for postconviction relief, Mass. R. Crim. P. 30 (a), 378 Mass. 800 (1978), following the affirmance of his conviction of murder in the second degree. See Commonwealth v. Repoza, 382 Mass. 119 (1980) ( I). We conclude that the judge’s charge impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to the defendant contrary to principles stated in Francis and that a new trial is required.
In 1978, a jury found the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree on an indictment charging him with…
2Cases cited22 opinions
- In Re WINSHIPSupreme Court of the United States · 1970
- Sandstrom v. MontanaSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
- Francis v. FranklinSupreme Court of the United States · 1985
- Commonwealth v. SaferianMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1974
- Hankerson v. North CarolinaSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
17 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by70 opinions
- Commonwealth v. AmiraultMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1997
- Commonwealth v. VasquezMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 2010
- Commonwealth v. GunterMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1998
- Commonwealth v. JudgeMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1995
- Commonwealth v. CarrionMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1990
65 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.