Commonwealth v. Markeese Mitchell (and Two Companion Cases)

Summary

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the trial judge’s denial of the defendants’ motions for a new trial and the motion to disqualify the judge, finding no abuse of discretion on either issue. The court applied the Amirault standard for juror dishonesty and held that the juror’s nondisclosure was not dishonest or, if so, did not show bias, and that the judge’s prior relationship with the former prosecutor did not create an appearance of partiality.