Case Name: James Rosencranz vs. Commonwealth
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 2015-07-31
Citations: 472 Mass. 1011
Docket Number: 
Parties: James Rosencranz vs. Commonwealth.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 472
Pages: 1011–1012

Head Matter:
James Rosencranz vs. Commonwealth.
July 31, 2015.
Supreme Judicial Court,
Superintendence of inferior courts.

Opinion:
James Rosencranz appeals from a judgment of a single justice of this court denying his petition pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3. That petition sought relief from the order of a Boston Municipal Court judge denying Rosencranz's motion to dismiss a criminal complaint on the ground that he had not been brought to trial within the twelve-month period provided by Mass. R. Crim. P. 36 (b), as amended, 422 Mass. 1503 (1996). The appeal is now before us pursuant to S.J.C. Rule 2:21, as amended, 434 Mass. 1301 (2001). We affirm the judgment of the single justice.
The case was submitted on the papers filed, accompanied by a memorandum of law.
Francis J. DiMento, Jr., for the petitioner.
It is established that a defendant in a criminal case is not entitled to appeal from the denial of a motion to dismiss prior to trial. See Jackson v. Commonwealth., 437 Mass. 1008,1009 (2002). It is also settled that G. L. c. 211, § 3, may not be used to circumvent that rule. Id. "Unless a single justice decides the matter on the merits or reserves and reports it to the full court, neither of which occurred here, a defendant cannot receive review under G. L. c. 211, § 3, from the denial of his motion to dismiss." Id.
Rosencranz argues that the alleged violation of his right to a speedy trial cannot effectively be remedied through the ordinary appellate process because the pendency of the criminal proceedings in the meantime has ongoing collateral consequences for him; specifically, he contends that the pending case adversely affects his ability to practice law or to secure other employment. We have previously considered and rejected arguments like this. The collateral consequences attendant to the pendency of criminal proceedings — such as "continued anxiety, community suspicion and other social and economic disabilities" — do not necessarily render the regular appellate process inadequate for speedy trial claims. Esteves v. Commonwealth, 434 Mass. 1003, 1003-1004 (2001) (distinguishing speedy trial claims from double jeopardy claims). See Owens v. Commonwealth, 465 Mass. 1010 (2013) (rejecting interlocutory review under G. L. c. 211, § 3, of denial of motion to dismiss based on claim of speedy trial violation); Cousin v. Commonwealth, 442 Mass. 1046 (2004) (same).
Judgment affirmed.
In a bar discipline proceeding arising out of unrelated events, Rosencranz was suspended from the practice of law in the Commonwealth, effective February 1,2012, for a period of six months. To date, he has not sought reinstatement.
We do not address other issues and arguments raised by Rosencranz on appeal that were not raised before the single justice.