Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Gelfgatt

Brief of Amicus Curiae filed by Daniel K. Gelb, Esquire and Daniel B. Garrie, Esquire to which National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers joins in support of defendant-appellant.

Brief filed: 08/23/2013

Documents

Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Gelfgatt

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts; Case No. SJC-11358

Question Presented

Whether compelling a criminal defendant to provide a password for a piece of encrypted computer hardware seized by the Commonwealth violates one’s right against self-incrimination provided by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article Twelve of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.

Argument(s)

Compelling a password production to the Commonwealth is a violation of defendant’s right against self-incrimination pursuant to the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 12 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. Society has adopted an objective expectation of privacy in computer passwords and encrypted data protected by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 14 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.

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Author(s)

Daniel K. Gelb, Gelb & Gelb LLP, Boston MA; Daniel B. Garrie, Law & Forensics, Seattle, WA.