Commonwealth v. Hernandez

In 2013, Defendant delivered his cellular telephone to his attorney for the purpose of seeking legal advice on several matters. In 2014, the Commonwealth filed a second motion for judicial approval of a grand jury subpoena to compel Defendant’s attorney to produce the cellular phone. The judge authorized the issuance of the subpoena, finding probable cause to believe that the telephone contained evidence of a crime under investigation by the grand jury. The Supreme Judicial Court reversed the judge’s order authorizing the issuance of a subpoena, holding that the attorney-client privilege protected Defendant against compelled production of the cellular telephone and that the protection afforded by the privilege could not be set aside based on a showing of probable cause. In 2016, the Commonwealth filed an application for an anticipatory search warrant pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276 1 to seize the telephone at the conclusion of a “legal advice period.” The superior court denied the application. The Supreme Judicial Court reversed, holding that a search warrant may issue for the seizure of the telephone because, absent such issuance, there is probable cause to believe that the telephone will be secreted from view. Remanded. View "Commonwealth v. Hernandez" on Justia Law