Title: Commonwealth v. Lodge
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SJC-13079
State: Massachusetts
Issuer: Massachusetts Supreme Court
Date: July 7, 2022

1 
 
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SJC-13079 
 
COMMONWEALTH  vs.  MICHAEL W. LODGE, SR. 
 
 
July 7, 2022. 
 
 
Practice, Criminal, Capital case, Postconviction relief, 
Dismissal. 
 
 
 
The defendant, Michael W. Lodge, Sr., was convicted of 
murder in the first degree by reason of deliberate 
premeditation.  After plenary review, we affirmed the 
conviction.  See Commonwealth v. Lodge, 431 Mass. 461, 462 
(2000).  After several subsequent motions for postconviction 
relief were denied in the Superior Court, Lodge applied to a 
single justice of this court, pursuant to the gatekeeper 
provision of G. L. c.  278, § 33E, for leave to appeal from the 
denial of those motions.  The single justice denied the 
application, and also denied relief on Lodge's additional 
filings, which essentially sought reconsideration.  Lodge 
purports to appeal from the single justice's rulings. 
 
 
Lodge now has filed a memorandum and appendix pursuant to 
S.J.C. Rule 2:21, as amended, 434 Mass. 1301 (2001).  That rule 
does not apply here, however, because he does not challenge an 
interlocutory ruling of the trial court.  See Commonwealth v. 
Companonio, 472 Mass. 1004, 1005 (2015).  Nonetheless, after 
considering the record before the single justice and the 
defendant's filings in this court, we conclude the appeal must 
be dismissed.  A single justice, acting as gatekeeper pursuant 
to G. L. c. 278, § 33E, may authorize an appeal to proceed in 
the full court if it presents a "new and substantial question 
which ought to be determined by the full court."  Commonwealth 
v. DiBenedetto, 475 Mass. 429, 431 n.7 (2016).  See Commonwealth 
v. Gunter, 459 Mass. 480, 487, cert. denied, 565 U.S. 868 
(2011); Commonwealth v. Monteiro, 451 Mass. 1009, 1010 (2008).  
2 
 
If, as here, the single justice decides the appeal does not meet 
that standard and denies the application, the decision "is final 
and unreviewable."  Commonwealth v. Gunter, 456 Mass. 1017, 1017 
(2010).  See Commonwealth v. Niemic, 451 Mass. 1008 (2008).  "A 
defendant who is denied leave to appeal from a single justice 
acting as a gatekeeper pursuant to the last sentence of G. L. 
c. 278, § 33E, has no right to appeal from the single justice's 
ruling denying leave."  Companonio, supra, and cases cited.  See 
Napolitano v. Attorney Gen., 432 Mass. 240, 241 (2000). 
 
 
Lodge's attempt to appeal from the single justice's denial 
of his application and subsequent requests for reconsideration, 
pursuant to G. L. c. 278, § 33E, must be dismissed.1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appeal dismissed. 
 
 
 
Michael W. Lodge, Sr., pro se. 
 
 
1 On May 26, 2022, the court issued a notice preceding 
dismissal in this case, to which the defendant responded with a 
motion for an extension of time to file a brief.  The notice was 
issued inadvertently.  Because the defendant has no right to 
appeal, there is no need for briefing in this case.