green
Positive treatment
Quoted verbatim 2×
7.5 score
“an officer may suggest broadly that it would be 'better' for a suspect to tell the truth .... what is prohibited, if a confession is to stand, is an assurance, express or implied, that it will aid the defense or result in a lesser sentence”
Treatment trajectory · 1980 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1980
2003
2026
Top citers, strongest first. 18 distinct citers.
How cited ↗
examined
Cited as authority (quoted)
Commonwealth v. Ortiz
an officer may suggest broadly that it would be 'better' for a suspect to tell the truth .... what is prohibited, if a confession is to stand, is an assurance, express or implied, that it will aid the defense or result in a lesser sentence
examined
Cited as authority (quoted)
Commonwealth v. Carp
taken alone, the misinformation would not, we think, suffice to show 'involuntariness' . . . but the judge could view it as a relevant factor in considering whether the defendant's ability to make a free choice was undermined
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. LeBeau
See Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 564 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980), and cases cited.
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Martin
See generally Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 571 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980); Commonwealth v. Haas, 373 Mass. 545, 554 (1977).
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Rupp
See Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 557 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980).
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Raymond
See Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 563 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980).
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Magee
See Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 567-568 (1979), cert, dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980); Commonwealth v. Jackson, supra at 329 . 5.
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Cunningham
See Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 564 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980).
discussed
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Lam Hue To
See Commonwealth v. Harvey, 390 Mass. 203, 205 (1983), quoting Commonwealth v. Angivoni, 383 Mass. 30, 33 (1981), quoting Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 557 (1979), cert. dismissed as improvidently granted, 445 U.S. 39 (1980).
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Bryant
See Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 567 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980).
discussed
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Bornholz
See Commonwealth v. Moynihan, 376 Mass. 468, 472-473 (1978). “[T]he [guard] could recognize [the articles], in combination with the statements received, ‘to be . . . related as proof to criminal activity of which [he was] already aware.’” Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 560 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980), quoting from Commonwealth v. Bond, 375 Mass. 201, 206 (1978).
cited
Cited "see"
Commonwealth v. Aarhus
See Commonwealth v. Mee- *747 han, 377 Mass. 552, 563 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980); Commonwealth v. Murray, 359 Mass. 541, 546 (1971).
discussed
Cited "see, e.g."
Commonwealth v. Tremblay
(2×)
Compare Commonwealth v. Selby, supra at 663-665 (where use of false information by detectives, in effort to elicit incriminating statements from defendant, was only factor suggesting alleged coercion, defendant's statements *209 held voluntary in totality of circumstances and, therefore, not suppressed), with Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 563, 567-568 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980) (communication of misinformation about strength of Commonwealth's case, taken alone, not sufficient to establish involuntariness, but presence of other factors suggesting possible coercion will…
discussed
Cited "see, e.g."
Commonwealth v. Jordan
Compare Commonwealth v. Mandile, 397 Mass. 410, 414-415 (1986) (police statements that cooperation would be brought to attention of district attorney did not render confession involuntary), and Commonwealth v. Williams, 388 Mass. 846, 855 (1983) (same), with Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 564-565 (1979), cert, dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980) (confession involuntary where induced by police statements that confession would “help” defense, and that “truth” was going to be “good defense”).
cited
Cited "see, e.g."
Commonwealth v. Adamides
See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 564 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980) (police cannot specifically promise leniency in order to obtain confession).
cited
Cited "see, e.g."
Commonwealth v. Forde
See also Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 562-563 (1979), cert, dismissed as improvidently granted, 445 U.S. 39 (1980).
cited
Cited "see, e.g."
Massachusetts General Hospital v. City of Revere
See also Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 558-559 (1979), cert. dismissed as improvidently granted, 445 U.S. 39 (1980); Commonwealth v. Avery, 365 Mass. 59, 65 (1974).
cited
Cited "see, e.g."
Commonwealth v. Bradshaw
See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Meehan, 377 Mass. 552, 567 (1979), cert. dismissed, 445 U.S. 39 (1980); Commonwealth v. Alicea, 376 Mass. 506 , 511 n.11 (1978).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
MASSACHUSETTS
v.
MEEHAN.
v.
MEEHAN.
78-1874.
Supreme Court of the United States.
Feb 26, 1980.
Per Curiam.
Cited by 12 opinions | Published
Citer courts: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial… (1) · Massachusetts Appeals Court (1)
CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Barbara A. H. Smith, Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts, argued the cause for petitioner. With her on the briefs were Francis X. Bellotti, Attorney General, and Stephen R. Delinsky, Assistant Attorney General.
David A. Mills argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief was Walter J. Hurley.
PER CURIAM.
The writ of certiorari is dismissed as improvidently granted.