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Lawmakers reach deal on immigration bill that restricts ICE activities
Massachusetts lawmakers unveiled a compromise immigration bill expanding limits on ICE arrests at sensitive locations while preserving a DOC partnership.
Education – Parental objection – Kindergarten curriculum
Where a plaintiff has objected to the content of certain books concerning sexual orientation and gender identity that are included in the kindergarten curriculum being used to teach his 5-year-old son, a motion by the defendants to dismiss the complaint should be allowed in part and denied in part.
Criminal defense bar: SJC’s digital forensics case a win for truth
The Supreme Judicial Court ruled Chapter 278A allows post-conviction digital forensic analysis of cellphones, expanding access to evidence.
Judge Rya Zobel more than just a trailblazer, members of bar say
Rya W. Zobel, Massachusetts' first female federal judge, is remembered for her fairness, landmark rulings, mentorship and lasting impact on the law.
The Most Important Opinions, January – June 2026
This special feature contains summaries of hundreds of the most notable opinions that were published in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly in the first half of 2026.
Souza-Baranowski correction officers indicted for allegedly beating prisoners
Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell indicted correction officers at Souza-Baranowski for allegedly beating shackled prisoners after a violent 2024 attack.
Civil rights – ‘Monell’ liability – Vacated convictions
Where a defendant city has moved to dismiss a complaint filed by a plaintiff whose criminal convictions were vacated, that motion should be allowed as to a negligence count but otherwise denied, as the plaintiff’s allegations are sufficient to state a claim under Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of City of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978).
Tort – Civil conspiracy
Where a jury found in favor of the plaintiffs on their claims for defamation, civil conspiracy and violations of their rights under the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, the defendants’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict should have been allowed with respect to the claim for civil conspiracy, as the trial judge’s jury instructions erroneously tied the verdict on the conspiracy claim[...]
Gemini Legal launches DraftEngine for civil litigation forms
Gemini Legal introduces DraftEngine, a platform to streamline civil litigation forms with over 5,000 updated California court forms.
Judge orders sheriffs’ ICE records released under public records law
A Superior Court judge ordered county sheriffs to release ICE-related records, finding federal regulations do not shield them from state public records law.
Civil rights – Church-autonomy doctrine – Medication policy
Where two plaintiffs have alleged that the defendant maintains a policy at its “Adult Rehabilitation Centers” (ARCs) that prevents individuals with opioid-use disorder from accessing medication for their disorder, the defendant’s motion for summary judgment should be allowed on the ground that its medication policy is a matter of church doctrine protected by the First Amendment.
Prisons – Contraband – Book
Where a plaintiff has alleged that the defendants violated his constitutional rights by prohibiting him from possessing a book that they determined to be contraband, an order granting the defendants judgment on the pleadings must be vacated because it is plausible that the defendants' ban of the book was not pursuant to legitimate penological interests.
