Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 22 (2026)

Warrants, procedure for issuance

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 22. Upon complaint made to any justice that a crime has been committed, he shall examine on oath the complainant and any witnesses produced by him, reduce the complaint to writing, and cause it to be subscribed by the complainant, and, if it appears that a crime has been committed, shall issue a summons or warrant in compliance with the provisions of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 23 cases, 1970–2019 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Bottari, 482 N.E.2d 321 (Mass. 1985).

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Commonwealth v. Bottari, 482 N.E.2d 321 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 2× “G.L.c. 276, § 22 (1984 ed.). Cf. Commonwealth v.”

United States v. Barbosa, 896 F.3d 60 (1st Cir. 2018). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 22 . The ensuing arrest warrant must nonetheless be signed by the official issuing it, see Mass.”

Burke v. Town of Walpole, 405 F.3d 66 (1st Cir. 2005). “” Additionally, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 22 (1998) requires that an arrest warrant be issued “in compliance with the provisions of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure,” which in turn require an arrest warrant to be “signed by the official issuing it,” Mass.”

Commonwealth v. Melendez, 551 N.E.2d 514 (Mass. 1990). · cites it 2× “See G.L.c. 276, § 22; K.B. Smith, Criminal Practice and Procedure §§ 625, 626 (2d ed.”

Commonwealth v. Cote, 444 N.E.2d 1282 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). · cites it 2× “The complaint procedure is governed by G. L. c. 276, § 22, as appearing in St. 1979, c.”

Commonwealth v. Smallwood, 401 N.E.2d 802 (Mass. 1980). “See G. L. c. 276, § 22 (providing only for appearances by the complainant and his witnesses in warrant procedure).”

United States v. Reginald Shepard, 348 F.3d 308 (1st Cir. 2003). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 22 (2000); Super.”

Bos. Globe Media Partners, LLC v. Chief Just. of the Trial Court, 130 N.E.3d 742 (Mass. 2019). “852 (1979); G. L. c. 276, § 22. The District Court Standards of Judicial Practice: The Complaint Procedure (2008) (Complaint Standards), while "lacking the force of law or rules," "are administrative regulations promulgated by the Chief Justice of the District Court that are…”

Commonwealth v. Morse, 740 N.E.2d 998 (Mass. App. Ct. 2000). “14 of the Declaration of Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution [, by the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution] and by G. L. c. 276, § 22.” Commonwealth v. Baldassini, 357 Mass.”

Commonwealth v. Baldassini, 260 N.E.2d 150 (Mass. 1970). · cites it 2× “14 of the Declaration of Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution and by G. L. c. 276, § 22. 1 The presumption of regularity must prevail over a deficient or incomplete record for whose preparation the defendant is responsible.”

Eagle-Tribune Publ'g Co. v. Clerk-Magistrate of the Lawrence Div. of the Dist. Court Dep't, 35 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1585 (Mass. 2007). “See G. L. c. 276, § 22; standard 2:03 of the Complaint Standards.”

Commonwealth v. Lyons, 492 N.E.2d 1142 (Mass. 1986). “On April 6, 1984, the Bedford police prosecutor applied for a complaint and for process to issue from the clerk of the Concord District Court (see G. L. c. 276, § 22 [1984 ed.]) against the defendant on a charge of indecent exposure (G.”

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