Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012
MBA News
MBA, others call for independent investigation in wake of alleged evidence mishandling at DPH lab
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Bar Association along with the
Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Civil
Liberties Union of Massachusetts called on Attorney General Martha
M. Coakley to appoint or call for the appointment of an independent
investigator in the crisis involving the William Hinton State Drug
Laboratory.
"As unimpeachable as the Office of the Attorney General is, an
institution that prosecutes drug cases, supports the State Police
unit that investigates drug cases and also supports drug
prosecutions by district attorneys will be perceived as having a
stake in the investigation's outcome," the letter states. Click here to
review the letter.
Following the delivery of the letter to Coakley, the signing
parties received multiple media inquiries. To review the MBA's
press coverage, click here and look under "LATEST NEWS."
Comments from MBA Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Operating Officer
Martin W. Healy were included in articles and segments featured
in/on The Associated Press, The Boston Globe,
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, State House News Service,
WBZ radio, WBUR-FM and Channel 5 WCVB-TV.