Appeals Court hears arguments over stay of sentence for Markinson Lafleur; case taken under advisement

Chief Justice Amy Blake and two colleagues heard oral argument Tuesday in Commonwealth v. Markinson Lafleur, docket 25P758, on whether a single justice erred in vacating a trial court's stay of sentence pending appeal.

The dispute centers on whether the single justice appropriately weighed individualized "security risk" factors (family ties, employment, monitoring conditions) or instead treated the crime of conviction and the mandatory 10-year minimum as dispositive. Defense counsel Emma Quinn Judge asked the panel to reverse the single justice's decision; Assistant Attorney Ellen Lazar represented the Commonwealth and urged affirmance. Chief Justice Amy Blake told counsel, "we have read all of your materials, so our suggestion is that you get right to your argument." The court took the matter under advisement following argument.

The issue matters…