How so? Its a ruling concerning state law only. Im not even sure if many other states followed the previous Massachusetts law. Moreover, the prior law really just deprived victims family of having the conviction on the books. It doesnt erase what the jury found from everyone’s memory. Lastly, the prior law didnt prevent victims families from filing a civil suit and prevailing. At most, the prior law may have prevented that conviction from being used in evidence, but im not sure what the rule of evidence on that issue was in massachusetts prior to the change and if the change impacts the rule at all.
Overall, the massachusetts ruling does not seem like a big deal but its good for the morale of the victims families, if anything. Therefore, its a good change.[/QUOTEi believe it is pretty standard. NY has that law. Once it's done somewhere, it's easier to do elsewhere. That said, I think the appeal should be completed.