principles defense (Massachusetts) · Go Syfert
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principles defense in Massachusetts

6 Massachusetts opinions name it 3 courts 1937–2025 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Massachusetts courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (6)

CaseFollowedCited
IDRIS I. v. HAZEL H.green
massappct · 2022 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See Idris I. v. Hazel H., 100 Mass. App. Ct. 784, 790-791 (2022).

11
Commonwealth v. Dislergreen
mass · 2008 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2008–2008
1 sentence

2008The principles of the rule were reaffirmed recently by the SJC: “[I]t is well established that ‘[i]If the statutory language [affecting a criminal statute could] plausibly be found to be ambiguous,’ the rule of lenity requires the defendant be given ‘the benefit of the ambiguity.’ ” Commonwealth v. Disler, 451 Mass. 216, 228-29 (2008) (internal citations omitted).

11
Jarosz v. Palmergreen
mass · 2002 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2006–2006
1 sentence

2006See Jarosz v. Palmer, 436 Mass. 526, 530 (2002), citing Brookline v. Goldstein, 388 Mass. 443, 447 (1983) (permitting a trial judge to take judicial notice of the records of other courts in a related action when deciding a motion to dismiss).

11
Town of Brookline v. Goldsteingreen
mass · 1983 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2006–2006
1 sentence

2006See Jarosz v. Palmer, 436 Mass. 526, 530 (2002), citing Brookline v. Goldstein, 388 Mass. 443, 447 (1983) (permitting a trial judge to take judicial notice of the records of other courts in a related action when deciding a motion to dismiss).

11
Commonwealth v. Millergreen
mass · 1972 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1992–1992
1 sentence

1992The applicable principles for the defense of entrapment are set forth in Commonwealth v. Shuman, 391 Mass. at 350 -351 (quoting from Perkins, Criminal Law 1031 [2d ed. 1969]): “It is socially desirable for criminals to be apprehended and brought to justice and there is nothing whatever wrong or out of place in setting traps to catch those bent on crime; [but] the state cannot tolerate . . . having its officers, who are charged with the duty of enforcing the law, instigate crime by implanting criminal ideas in innocent minds and thereby bring about offenses that otherwise would never have been

11
Commonwealth v. Clearygreen
mass · 1898 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 1937–1937
1 sentence

1937Commonwealth v. Cleary, 172 Mass. 175, 176, 177 .

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Massachusetts. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (2)

CaseCitedYears
Commonwealth v. Mahar green
mass · 2000
1 sentence

2002The court, therefore, accepted the principles of rule 806 of the Proposed Massachusetts Rules of Evidence, which states, “the credibility of the declarant may be attacked, and if attacked may be supported, by any evidence which would be admissible for those purposes if declarant had testified as a witness.” Id. at 649 , quoting from Proposed Mass.R.Evid. 806.

12002–2002
Commonwealth v. Shuman green
mass · 1984
2 sentences

1992The applicable principles for the defense of entrapment are set forth in Commonwealth v. Shuman, 391 Mass. at 350 -351 (quoting from Perkins, Criminal Law 1031 [2d ed. 1969]): “It is socially desirable for criminals to be apprehended and brought to justice and there is nothing whatever wrong or out of place in setting traps to catch those bent on crime; [but] the state cannot tolerate . . . having its officers, who are charged with the duty of enforcing the law, instigate crime by implanting criminal ideas in innocent minds and thereby bring about offenses that otherwise would never have been

1992The applicable principles for the defense of entrapment are set forth in Commonwealth v. Shuman, 391 Mass. at 350 -351 (quoting from Perkins, Criminal Law 1031 [2d ed. 1969]): “It is socially desirable for criminals to be apprehended and brought to justice and there is nothing whatever wrong or out of place in setting traps to catch those bent on crime; [but] the state cannot tolerate . . . having its officers, who are charged with the duty of enforcing the law, instigate crime by implanting criminal ideas in innocent minds and thereby bring about offenses that otherwise would never have been

11992–1992

Where else courts name it

IL 117 (1958–2026) CA 51 (1895–2026) PA 33 (1839–2025) MD 22 (1909–2020) MO 21 (1890–2024) NY 21 (1859–2018) NJ 18 (1945–2023) GA 17 (1939–2015) TX 17 (1910–2026) NC 16 (1994–2022) IA 16 (1939–2026) MN 15 (1987–2025) WI 14 (1975–2019) OH 14 (2005–2024) CT 11 (1972–2016) MI 11 (1983–2023) TN 11 (1905–2015) FL 10 (1962–2016) WV 10 (1903–2026) AL 9 (1940–2008) VT 8 (1972–2026) VA 8 (1966–2020) OK 8 (1900–2015) MS 7 (1895–2025) ID 6 (1983–2025) OR 6 (1977–2025) MA 6 (1937–2025) KS 5 (1925–2021) WA 5 (1972–2020) UT 5 (1996–2024) LA 5 (1998–2025) RI 4 (1960–2004) DE 4 (1939–2015) NM 3 (2009–2024) WY 3 (1988–1997) IN 3 (1898–2014) CO 3 (1947–2025) AZ 3 (2010–2025) SD 3 (1957–2007) DC 3 (1979–2012) NV 3 (2009–2021) MT 3 (1927–2008) KY 2 (1965–2025) AR 2 (1909–2012) ME 2 (1973–2020) HI 2 (1946–1995)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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