Case Name: Donald J. McClain vs. Commonwealth
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1995-11-14
Citations: 421 Mass. 1005
Docket Number: 
Parties: Donald J. McClain vs. Commonwealth.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 421
Pages: 1005–1005

Head Matter:
Donald J. McClain vs. Commonwealth.
November 14, 1995.
Supreme Judicial Court,
Superintendence of inferior courts.
Donald J. McClain, pro se, submitted a brief.

Opinion:
In 1976, Donald J. McClain (defendant) pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a dwelling house in the nighttime and committing a felony therein. Also, in 1976, the defendant pleaded guilty to escaping from prison. The defendant instituted no postconviction proceedings or appeals relative to those convictions until he moved for a new trial in May, 1994. In February, 1995, he filed motions for release from unlawful restraint and for an evidentiary hearing. Those motions were denied as was a motion to reconsider. The defendant did not appeal.
In March, 1995, the defendant filed in this court a petition for relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3 (1994 ed.). A single justice denied the petition. The defendant appealed. The Commonwealth has moved to dismiss the appeal. The Commonwealth's motion is allowed. Relief under c. 211, § 3, could have and should have been raised by timely appeal from the rulings in the trial court.
Appeal dismissed.