Case Title: Chin v. Commonwealth

Citation: 

Docket Number: SJC-11860

State: massachusetts

Court: Massachusetts Supreme Court

Date: 2015-12-10T00:00:00Z

Document:
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SJC-11860 
 
ALAN CHIN  vs.  COMMONWEALTH. 
 
 
 
December 10, 2015. 
 
 
Supreme Judicial Court, Appeal from order of single justice. 
 
 
 
Alan Chin appeals from a judgment of a single justice of 
this court denying, without a hearing, his petition for relief 
under G. L. c. 211, § 3.  A petition for Chin's civil commitment 
as a sexually dangerous person is pending in the Superior Court.  
Chin waived his right to a probable cause hearing, assented to a 
finding of probable cause, and was temporarily committed to the 
Massachusetts Treatment Center for examination and diagnosis by 
two qualified examiners.  The qualified examiners submitted 
their reports, and the Commonwealth petitioned for trial.  Chin 
filed a motion in limine to preclude the Commonwealth from 
calling certain witnesses.  The motion was denied.  Chin's G. L. 
c. 211, § 3, petition sought relief from that ruling.  We affirm 
the judgment. 
 
 
Because Chin's petition sought relief from an interlocutory 
ruling of the trial court, he is obligated to submit a record 
appendix and memorandum of law "set[ting] forth the reasons why 
review of the trial court decision cannot adequately be obtained 
on appeal from any final adverse judgment in the trial court or 
by other available means."  S.J.C. Rule 2:21, as amended, 434 
Mass. 1301 (2001).  Chin has filed a brief and record appendix, 
which we are treating as a memorandum pursuant to rule 2:21.1  He 
                     
 
1 We note that the record appendix is incomplete, as it 
fails to include the entire record before the single justice.  
In particular, it omits Chin's memorandum in support of his 
G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition and the Commonwealth's opposition. 
2 
 
 
has failed therein to carry his burden under the rule.  If the 
witnesses' testimony is improperly admitted against him, he can 
raise that issue on appeal from any adverse judgment, as the 
admissibility of a witness's testimony is a matter routinely 
addressed in the ordinary appellate process.  He can limit and 
challenge their testimony at trial as well, through the use of 
objections and cross-examination.  Because Chin has these 
alternative remedies available to him, the single justice 
neither erred nor abused his discretion by denying extraordinary 
relief. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Judgment affirmed. 
 
 
The case was submitted on the papers filed, accompanied by 
a memorandum of law. 
 
 
John S. Day for the petitioner.