News, Pleadings
David Nathanson
Public Trial Amicus Brief

On March 6, 2017, Attorney Wood and a team of attorneys from Ropes & Gray filed a brief in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Weaver v. Massachusetts, No. 16-240. They argue that the Court should not shy away from vindicating the treasured right to a public trial. The government's argument that vindicating the right to a public trial would "open up the floodgates" is both factually incorrect and diverts attention from the real issue: whether our Constitution entitles everyone to a public trial. Read the brief here.

Appeals

Brownlow Speer Award for Appellate Advocacy

Brownlow Speer Award for Appellate Advocacy

On March 1, 2023, Attorney Wood received MACDL's Brownlow Speer Award for "excellence in appellate advocacy in the defense of the accused." The award recognizes both Attorney Wood’s work on behalf of his own clients resulting in the reversal of more than twenty convictions and sentences and his work with MACDL in advancing the law, authoring or co-authoring approximately 120 amicus briefs as co-chair of MACDL’s amicus committee. (Pictured is Attorney Wood with CPCS Attorney Rafael Feliciano-Cumbas who received MACDL’s Hines-Burnham Award for young defenders whose work shows exceptional promise, skill, and innovation.)

Appellate Win in Eviction Case

In the appeal of an eviction case, Attorney Jellison helped develop issues and write a brief with a team of lawyers working through the Volunteer Lawyers Project. The Appellate Division of the District Court held that the district court judge abused his discretion when he failed to grant a continuance so that the elderly and disabled tenant could obtain counsel and present defenses. The tenant will now have the opportunity for a new hearing.