Commonwealth v. Watkins

The defendant was charged in 2001 with armed assault with intent to murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. He elected to be tried without a jury, and was convicted in Superior Court of both charges. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial judge’s questioning of a Commonwealth witness exceeded the proper scope of questioning, in violation of his right to due process under art. 12 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. We affirm.

Background. The charges against the defendant arose out of a *70shooting incident outside…