Michael O'Laughlin
Supreme Court Affirms: Client Michael O'Laughlin Is A Free Man
01.20.10
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court
denied a petition for a writ of certoriari filed by the
Commonwealth, thus letting stand the order by the First Circuit
Court of Appeals freeing client Michael O'Laughlin and affirming
his innocence.
Thus ends Michael's nine year odyssey of imprisonment.
Thus ends Michael's nine year odyssey of imprisonment.
Supreme Court orders client Michael O'Laughlin released on bail
09.04.09
After nearly 9 years, Michael
O'Laughlin was release on bail last week. Attorney General of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts had filed any emergency motion with
the US Supreme Court to keep Michael in prison. Associate Justice
Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court denied the Attorney General's
motion and ordered Michael to be released with bail. Justice Breyer
wrote "Respondent’s liberty interest in release is
particularly substantial given that it is not reasonably likely
that this Court would grant a petition for certiorari filed by the
Commonwealth."
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals had overturned a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision earlier this summer, holding that the evidence presented could not permit any rational jury to conclude that O'Laughlin was the assailant beyond a reasonable doubt.
The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals had overturned a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision earlier this summer, holding that the evidence presented could not permit any rational jury to conclude that O'Laughlin was the assailant beyond a reasonable doubt.
Court of Appeals Reverses Conviction of client Michael O'Laughlin
06.11.09
In a rare decision upholding a lower
court decision overturning a jury verdict, the 1st Circuit Court of
Appeals overturned the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [SJC]
in the murder case of client Michael O'Laughlin. Citing the "the
extremely high bar " in such instances, the court found in part:
"Taken together, the circumstantial evidence in this case, even
when drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the prosecution,
does not permit any rational jury to conclude that O'Laughlin was
the assailant beyond a reasonable doubt." The opinion is notable
for its thorough parsing--and ultimate rejection-- of the
consciousness of guilt evidence cited by the SJC.
The court summed up the case as follows:
"A Massachusetts Superior Court jury had convicted O'Laughlin of the following counts: (1) burglary and armed assault in a dwelling; (2) armed assault in a dwelling; (3) armed assault with intent to murder; and(4) assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. The Superior Court then sentenced O'Laughlin to 35-50 years on Counts One and Two; 19-20 years on Count 3; and 9-10 years on Count 4, ruling that the sentences were to be served concurrently.
The intermediate Massachusetts Appeals Court reversed the judgments holding that there was insufficient evidence to support the verdicts. Commonwealth v. O'Laughlin, 830 N.E.2d 222 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005) (hereinafter "O'Laughlin I"). The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ("SJC") reinstated the judgment reasoning that there was sufficient evidence to support the verdicts. Commonwealth v. O'Laughlin, 843 N.E.2d 617 (Mass. 2006) (hereinafter "O'Laughlin II").
O'Laughlin filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on grounds that (1) the SJC's (which had ruled that was objectively unreasonable because there was insufficient evidence to support a guilty verdict and (2) that the SJC violated his constitutional right to present a defense. The district court denied O'Laughlin's petition for habeas relief.
After careful consideration, we reverse the judgment of the district court and order the district court to grant the petition. "
A full factual recounting of the case is found here. Michael remains in prison pending a state appeal for an en banc hearing by a full panel of 1st Circuit judges.
The court summed up the case as follows:
"A Massachusetts Superior Court jury had convicted O'Laughlin of the following counts: (1) burglary and armed assault in a dwelling; (2) armed assault in a dwelling; (3) armed assault with intent to murder; and(4) assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. The Superior Court then sentenced O'Laughlin to 35-50 years on Counts One and Two; 19-20 years on Count 3; and 9-10 years on Count 4, ruling that the sentences were to be served concurrently.
The intermediate Massachusetts Appeals Court reversed the judgments holding that there was insufficient evidence to support the verdicts. Commonwealth v. O'Laughlin, 830 N.E.2d 222 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005) (hereinafter "O'Laughlin I"). The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ("SJC") reinstated the judgment reasoning that there was sufficient evidence to support the verdicts. Commonwealth v. O'Laughlin, 843 N.E.2d 617 (Mass. 2006) (hereinafter "O'Laughlin II").
O'Laughlin filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on grounds that (1) the SJC's (which had ruled that was objectively unreasonable because there was insufficient evidence to support a guilty verdict and (2) that the SJC violated his constitutional right to present a defense. The district court denied O'Laughlin's petition for habeas relief.
After careful consideration, we reverse the judgment of the district court and order the district court to grant the petition. "
A full factual recounting of the case is found here. Michael remains in prison pending a state appeal for an en banc hearing by a full panel of 1st Circuit judges.