Commonwealth v. Monteiro
This text of 886 N.E.2d 123 (Commonwealth v. Monteiro) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
The single justice’s decision, acting as a gatekeeper pursuant to G. L. c. 278, § 33E, is final and unreviewable. Commonwealth v. Scott, 437 Mass. 1008 (2002). Commonwealth v. Ambers, 397 Mass. 705, 710-711 (1986), and cases cited. Monteiro’s assertion that he could not have previously raised his ineffective assistance of counsel claim because his trial and appellate counsel were employed by the same agency, Commonwealth v. Egardo, 426 Mass. 48, 49-50 (1997), “ignores not only the nature of plenary review, see G. L. c. 278, § 33E, but also the single justice’s determination as gatekeeper that the claim of ineffective assistance was not substantial.” Commonwealth v. Herbert, 445 Mass. 1018, 1018-1019 (2005), quoting Commonwealth v. Scott, supra. See also Commonwealth v. Cook, 447 Mass. 1023, 1024 (2007). Monteiro cannot appeal to the full court.
Appeal dismissed.
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
886 N.E.2d 123, 451 Mass. 1009, 2008 Mass. LEXIS 245, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-monteiro-mass-2008.