DISCLAIMER:

These summaries of case decisions are intended for informational purposes only. They are not intended to be interpretations of the law, nor do they encompass the subtleties of each case. Therefore, reference to the original text is indispensable.



Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Com v Melendez-Diaz, Appeals Ct, 2/3/10

COMMONWEALTH v. MELENDEZ-DIAZ, February 3, 2010, Appeals Court

Controlled substances, Evidence, Confrontation of witnesses, Certificate of drug analysis

The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the Appeals Court and remanded the case to consider whether the admission of the drug analysis was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The Appeals Court agreed with the defendant that the error was not harmless because the analysis provided the only material evidence that the substance was cocaine.