Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 277, § 66 (2026)

List of jurors to prisoners; process for witnesses

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 66. A prisoner indicted for a crime punishable with death or imprisonment for life, upon demand by him or his counsel upon the clerk, shall have a list of the jurors who have been returned and process to summon witnesses who are necessary to his defence, at the expense of the commonwealth.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases, 1926–1998 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Angiulo, 615 N.E.2d 155 (Mass. 1993).

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Commonwealth v. Angiulo, 615 N.E.2d 155 (Mass. 1993). · cites it 18× “Third, the defendant argues that the use of an anonymous jury violated G.L.c. 277, § 66 (1990 ed.), [17] which provides: "A prisoner indicted for a crime punishable *524 with death or imprisonment for life, upon demand by him or his counsel upon the clerk, shall have a list of…”

Commonwealth v. Scott, 564 N.E.2d 370 (Mass. 1990). · cites it 2× “After the fourth motion was denied, the defendant's counsel suggested to the judge that he would be willing to stop insisting on having access to the victim if the judge called on the victim to testify.”

Commonwealth v. Watkins, 379 N.E.2d 1040 (Mass. 1978). “233, § 13B, or, if “material,” that his testimony would not be of such import to the defendant’s case as to warrant the court’s compelling his attendance at trial or discontinuing the proceedings until his attendance could be secured.”

Commonwealth v. Seit, 364 N.E.2d 1243 (Mass. 1977). “The judge caused the sheriff to attempt to serve a summons under G. L. c. 277, § 66, on Manelli the next morning and bring him in.”

Commonwealth v. Allen, 400 N.E.2d 229 (Mass. 1980). “Today such provisions are found in G. L. c. 277, § 66, and 18 U.S.C. § 3432 (1976).”

Commonwealth v. Sacco, 151 N.E. 839 (Mass. 1926). “It is not within G. L. c. 277, § 66, entitling a prisoner indicted for a crime punishable with death or imprisonment for life to demand and receive a fist of jurors who have been returned to try his case.”

Commonwealth v. Ennis, 301 N.E.2d 589 (Mass. App. Ct. 1973). “2 Indeed, the refusal to disclose the identity of the informer perforce denied the defendant the right to interview him, to have compulsory process for his presence if necessary (G. L. c. 277, § 66; Washington v. Texas, 388 U.”

Commonwealth v. Dirring, 238 N.E.2d 508 (Mass. 1968). “Although the defendant was entitled to compulsory process under G. L. c. 277, § 66, for all “witnesses who are necessary to his defence,” this right does not automatically extend beyond the territory of the Commonwealth.”

Commonwealth v. Underwood, 335 N.E.2d 915 (Mass. App. Ct. 1975). “14 The defendant made a “demand for process to summons witnesses pursuant to G. L. c. 277, § 66,” and a motion for appropriate relief to furnish records.”

Commonwealth v. Buonopane, 403 N.E.2d 1186 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). ““Whether an inference can be drawn from the failure to call witnesses necessarily depends, as with inferences generally, upon the posture of the particular case and the state of the evidence.”

Blazo v. Superior Court, 315 N.E.2d 857 (Mass. 1974). “* ** 4 There is no statute relieving a defendant of these costs in case of his inability to pay them except G. L. c. 277, §66, a statute of venerable origin 5 stating that a prisoner indicted for a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for life shall on demand have process…”

Commonwealth v. Binkiewicz, 162 N.E.2d 46 (Mass. 1959). “The defendant contends that the judge was obliged to direct the issuance of summons because of G. L. c. 277, § 66, which, so far as relevant, provides that “A prisoner indicted for a crime punishable with death or imprisonment for life, upon demand by him or his counsel upon the…”

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