The Supreme Court overturned the conviction of an attorney convicted of smuggling illegal drugs into a Massachusetts state prison after the state supported her appeal.
The petitioner, lawyer Elana Gordon, argued that the prosecution’s use of a scientific expert at trial who had not personally analyzed the drugs violated her constitutional right to confront an accuser. The state here agreed with Gordon that the case should be returned to a lower court for a second look.
The case now returns to the Appeals Court of Massachusetts, which may order a retrial or take other action.
The Supreme Court granted Gordon’s petition in a brief unsigned order on Oct. 21. The court did not explain its decision. No justices dissented….