Levine v. Chief Justice of the District Court Department of the Trial Court

The plaintiffs contend that Massachusetts gun control laws, G. L. c. 140, §§ 121-131P, violate the Federal and State Constitutions in various respects. By way of a petition to a single justice of this court, they sought relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3, a declaratory judgment under G. L. c. 231 A, § 1, and relief under the doctrine of public right. The single justice denied all claims for relief. We review the single justice’s denial of relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3, for abuse of discretion or other error of law (Semedo v. Commonwealth, 429 Mass. 1006, 1007 [1999]); his denial of declaratory…