Massachusetts § 23 Certain acts or omissions by defendant not admissible against him in criminal trial

Massachusetts Statutes

§ 23 — Certain acts or omissions by defendant not admissible against him in criminal trial

Massachusetts § 23

Part IVCRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES

Title IIPROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES

Ch. 278TRIALS AND PROCEEDINGS BEFORE JUDGMENT

This text of Massachusetts § 23 (Certain acts or omissions by defendant not admissible against him in criminal trial) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 278, § 23 (2026).

Text

Section 23. At the trial of a criminal case in the superior court, upon indictment, or in a district court, the fact that the defendant did not testify at any preliminary hearing in the first court, or that at such hearing he waived examination or did not offer any evidence in his own defense, shall not be used as evidence against him, nor be referred to or commented upon by the prosecuting officer.

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Section 23. At the trial of a criminal case in the superior court, upon indictment, or in a district court, the fact that the defendant did not testify at any preliminary hearing in the first court, or that at such hearing he waived examination or did not offer any evidence in his own defense, shall not be used as evidence against him, nor be referred to or commented upon by the prosecuting officer.

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Bluebook (online)

Massachusetts § 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ma/278/23.