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.

Junk Science

Freedom! Bail Granted in First Degree Murder Case

Freedom! Bail Granted in First Degree Murder Case

Attorney Wood assisted by Attorney Ramos secured the release on bail today of their client who had been charged with first degree murder in the death of her wife. Attorney Wood convinced the Supreme Judicial Court to reverse her conviction (after two previous hung juries) due to the admission of junk science. Attorney Wood emphasized the weakness of the government’s case, our client’s impeccable conduct on bail during prior trials, and her broad support network. You can read more about the bail hearing here.

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Murder Conviction Reversed Due To Junk Science Expert Testimony

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On September 27, 2021, a unanimous SJC reversed the first degree murder conviction and life sentence of Attorney Wood's client Cara Rintala in a 47 page decision. After two trials in which juries could not agree on a verdict, the prosecutor called a bench chemist at a paint company to offer "expert" testimony in a third trial that paint found on the victim's body had been poured intentionally just before police arrived at the crime scene. His opinion convinced the third jury to convict. On appeal, the SJC accepted Attorney Wood's argument, supported by the affidavit from a professor of material science and several amicus briefs, that this "expert" opinion was junk science that was not reliable because it did not follow the scientific method and should not have been admitted. The decision is a powerful precedent that trial judges must demand that prosecutors who offer expert opinion purportedly based on new science first demonstrate its reliability - using the scientific method - before permitting the jury to hear it.

Attorney Wood and his associate Melissa Ramos immediately filed a motion seeking Ms. Rintala's release while the Commonwealth decides whether to attempt to retry her a fourth time.