Title: Scott v. Commonwealth
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SJC-12335
State: Massachusetts
Issuer: Massachusetts Supreme Court
Date: May 25, 2018

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SJC-12335 
 
DERRICK SCOTT  vs.  COMMONWEALTH. 
 
 
May 25, 2018. 
 
 
Supreme Judicial Court, Superintendence of inferior courts.  
Practice, Criminal, Postconviction relief. 
 
 
This is an appeal from the judgment of a single justice of 
this court denying the petitioner, Derrick Scott, relief 
pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3.  We affirm. 
 
Following a jury trial in the Superior Court, Scott was 
convicted of rape, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 22 (b); and 
kidnapping, in violation of G. L. c. 265, § 26.  His direct 
appeal from the judgments of conviction presently is pending 
before the Appeals Court.  While the appeal has been pending, 
Scott filed a motion in the Superior Court seeking access to, 
and copies of, the confidential juror questionnaires submitted 
by prospective jurors for his trial.  See G. L. c. 234A, § 22.  
After his motion was denied,  Scott filed a G. L. c. 211, § 3, 
petition in the county court seeking relief from the judge's 
order.  The single justice neither erred nor abused his 
discretion in denying the petition.1 
 
A single justice properly exercises his or her 
discretionary power of review under G. L. 211, § 3, only in 
exceptional circumstances.  See Planned Parenthood League of 
Mass., Inc. v. Operation Rescue, 406 Mass. 701, 706 (1990).  The 
power is to be used "sparingly."  Care & Protection of Sophie, 
                                                          
 
 
1 Scott has moved to strike certain portions of the 
Commonwealth's brief, which referred to matters not before the 
single justice.  In reaching our decision, we have not 
considered those portions of the Commonwealth's brief. 
2 
 
449 Mass. 100, 103 (2007).  It is not "merely a substitute for 
normal appellate review" (quotation omitted).  Francis v. 
District Attorney for the Plymouth Dist., 388 Mass. 1009, 1010 
(1983).  It is therefore incumbent on a petitioner to 
"demonstrate both a substantial claim of violation of his 
substantive rights and error that cannot be remedied under the 
ordinary review process."  Dunbrack v. Commonwealth, 398 Mass. 
502, 504 (1986).  See Campiti v. Commonwealth, 417 Mass. 454, 
455-456 (1994).  We have said that the court's power of 
superintendence rarely is exercised to review interlocutory 
rulings in criminal cases, because the process of trial and 
appeal ordinarily provides adequate review of any claims of 
error.  See Gilday v. Commonwealth, 360 Mass. 170, 171 (1971).  
Although this appeal concerns a postconviction ruling, the same 
principles apply. 
 
Scott challenges the denial of access to juror 
questionnaires used during the jury selection process.  The 
single justice properly denied the petition because Scott failed 
to meet his burden of establishing that his challenge could not 
be effectively addressed as part of his pending appeal, or by 
other available avenues.  See Bledsoe v. Commissioner of 
Correction, 470 Mass. 1017, 1018 (2014).  His argument that the 
juror questionnaires should be part of the record on appeal does 
not justify the extraordinary intervention of this court.  It is 
something that can adequately be addressed by the Appeals Court, 
where his appeal is pending, or by a single justice of the 
Appeals Court.  For example, he could have sought a ruling as to 
the correct composition of the record from a single justice of 
the Appeals Court pursuant to Mass. R. A. P. 8 (e), as amended, 
378 Mass. 932 (1979). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Judgment affirmed. 
 
 
 
Alan E. Zeltserman for the petitioner. 
 
Dara Z. Kesselheim, Assistant District Attorney, for the 
Commonwealth.