Commonwealth v. Smith

98 Mass. 10

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: November 15, 1867
• Status: Published

Opinion

Bigelow, C. J.

It having been adjudged by competent authority that the verdict heretofore rendered in this case was founded upon insufficient evidence, and that additional evidence, material to the issue, has been newly discovered, that verdict has been set aside and a new trial ordered. The case therefore now stands to be determined in like manner as if no trial had taken place and no verdict had been rendered against the defendant. The question raised by the exceptions thus resolves itself into the single inquiry whether, after an indictment has been found and returned into court, and before any proceedings have been had thereon, the attorney for the government hay authority to enter a nolle prosequi on the indictment. We can hardly deem this an open question. The exercise of such an authority is not only in conformity to the ancient and uniform practice in the courts of. this Commonwealth, but it has been distinctly recognized by this court as being reasonable ana proper, and not inconsistent with the legal rights of the defendant. Commonwealth v. Wheeler, 2 Mass. 174. Commonwealth v. Tuck, 20 Pick. 356, 365. In the latter case it is expressly stated by the court that “ it is perfectly clear that a nolle prosequi may be entered at the pleasure of the prosecuting officer ” before a jury is impanelled. The reasons for the practice are there stated, and they are numerous and decisive. Nor can we see that there are any valid objections to it. Such a mode of disposing of an indictment can in no way impair or affect the rights of the accused party in any future prosecution for the same offence. That it will not be resorted to capriciously or oppressively, so as to work any undue hardship on defendants, is sufficiently guarded against by intrusting the exercise of the power to the sound discretion of an officer of the government, whose function it is to watch over and direct the course of criminal prosecutions, and who can have no motive to use the authority vested in him in a manner inconsistent with a due regard to the rights and interests of all parties. Eor this reason, decisions of courts in which private prosecutors promote, manage and conduct prosecutions for criminal offences, can have no weight or authority on the point in question in the courts of this Commonwealth. Exceptions overruled.