Grand Jury Investigation, Matter of

• Decision Date: 10 April 1998
• Citation: 692 N.E.2d 56,427 Mass. 221
• Parties: In the Matter of a GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

Page 56

692 N.E.2d 56

427 Mass. 221

In the Matter of a GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Suffolk.

Argued Jan. 9, 1998.

Decided April 10, 1998.

David F. Capeless, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Robert J. Carnes, for the brother.

Paul W. Cormier, Pittsfield, for the father.

Scott Harshbarger, Attorney General, and Pamela L. Hunt, Assistant Attorney General, for the Attorney General, amicus curiae, submitted a brief.

Before WILKINS, C.J., and ABRAMS, LYNCH, GREANEY, FRIED, MARSHALL and IRELAND, JJ.

WILKINS, Chief Justice.

A grand jury in Berkshire County is investigating the apparent rape of a twenty-one year old woman who is profoundly retarded and autistic. The woman, who lives with her parents and brother, cannot talk and requires twenty-four hour supervision. In the fall of 1996, a physician determined that the woman was pregnant. ¹ The woman is incapable of identifying the man who caused her pregnancy. Police investigation led to the reasonable belief that either the woman's father or her brother caused her pregnancy. A State trooper sought to obtain blood samples from each for comparison testing, but, on advice of counsel, each declined to cooperate.

In February, 1997, the State trooper testified before the grand jury, presenting the information that we have just summarized. The district attorney then petitioned, on behalf of the grand jury, for a court order directing the father and the brother each to submit to the taking of a sample of blood by trained laboratory personnel under the direction of the State police. The father and the brother, represented by separate counsel, opposed the petition. They relied on the prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures stated in both the Federal and State Constitutions but on appeal make no claim that the two provisions call for different results. See Commonwealth v. Downey, 407 Mass. 472, 475 n. 5, 553 N.E.2d 1303 (1990).

A judge in the Superior Court held a hearing on the petition and denied it. Relying on this court's opinion in Matter of Lavigne, 418 Mass. 831, 641 N.E.2d 1328 (1994), which concerned the right of the police to take a blood sample pursuant to a search warrant, the judge concluded that the Commonwealth must show that there is probable cause for believing that the person whose blood is sought committed the crime under investigation. Because, in his view, the Commonwealth failed to make such a showing, the judge declined to order the production of blood samples.

The Commonwealth next petitioned a single justice of this court, under G.L. c. 211, § 3, for relief from the order entered in the Superior Court. After a hearing, a single justice of this court denied relief without filing a memorandum of decision or otherwise stating why he did so. ² The Commonwealth has appealed from the judgment denying relief. The only issue before us is whether the single justice erred in ruling that the Superior Court judge was correct in denying the Commonwealth's petition for orders to produce blood samples. Neither the father nor the brother argues that the single justice might have decided the case on any other ground or that we should do so.

In Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 769-771, 86 S.Ct. 1826, 1835-1836, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966), the Court balanced the State's interest in obtaining evidence against the defendant's rights. It held that a defendant's constitutional right not to be subjected to unreasonable searches and seizures was not violated when, in exigent circumstances and with probable cause to believe that the defendant had operated a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a doctor on direction of a police officer drew blood from the defendant shortly after a motor vehicle accident. "Such tests are a commonplace in these days of periodic physical examinations and experience with them teaches that the quantity of blood extracted is minimal, and that for most people the procedure involves virtually no risk, trauma, or pain" (footnote omitted). Id. at 771, 86 S.Ct. at 1836. The Court emphasized that there was a clear indication that relevant evidence would be found because a blood test is an effective means of determining whether a person is intoxicated. Id. The absence of an adequate alternative means of proof bears on the intensity of the State's interest in obtaining the evidence and is a factor to be considered in the balancing test stated in the Schmerber opinion. See Winston v. Lee, 470 U.S. 753, 762-763, 105 S.Ct. 1611, 1617-1618, 84 L.Ed.2d 662 (1985). A more substantial bodily intrusion might require a different result, even if there were probable cause to believe that a defendant had committed a crime and the intrusion would produce relevant evidence, especially if the State's need for the evidence was not great. Id. at 766, 105 S.Ct. at 1619-1620 (unreasonable search to compel defendant to submit to potentially dangerous surgery to remove bullet from defendant's chest for which State had not shown compelling need). Although the Schmerber and Winston opinions indicate that drawing blood is not by itself unreasonable, they tell us little about the standard to be applied when a request comes from a grand jury.

In certain circumstances, the police may seek blood samples, either before or after criminal charges have been brought, without violating any constitutional prohibition. See Matter of Lavigne, 418 Mass. 831, 835, 641 N.E.2d 1328 (1994) (taking of blood of suspect, pursuant to preindictment search warrant, would not be unconstitutional search or seizure provided that there was probable cause to believe suspect committed a crime and his blood would aid in investigation of that crime); Commonwealth v. Trigones, 397 Mass. 633, 640, 492 N.E.2d 1146 (1986) (postindictment, hence after finding of probable cause, order that defendant provide blood sample may properly issue on showing "that a sample of the defendant's blood will probably produce evidence relevant to the question of the defendant's guilt"). The issue of significance in this case is what level of probability the Commonwealth must establish that the person from whom blood is sought committed the crime under grand jury investigation. Other considerations point to the allowance of the grand jury's request. The degree of bodily intrusion would be minimal. The evidence would be highly relevant on the issue of the father's and the brother's guilt or innocence. And there is no better source of evidence of such strength available to the grand jury. ³

Our analysis of the claim of a constitutional violation is advanced only a little by stating that the Commonwealth must demonstrate probable cause. The more useful inquiry asks of what must there be probable cause? In other areas requiring probable cause determinations, the answer varies depending on the circumstances. There is probable cause to arrest a suspect if "at the moment of arrest, the facts and circumstances within the knowledge of the police are enough to warrant a prudent person in believing that the individual arrested has committed ... an offense" (Commonwealth v. Sanna, 424 Mass. 92, 99 n. 11, 674 N.E.2d 1067 [1997], quoting Commonwealth v. Santaliz, 413 Mass. 238, 241, 596 N.E.2d 337 [1992] ), or, to put it another way, probable cause to arrest "requires more than mere suspicion but something less than evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction." Commonwealth v. Roman, 414 Mass. 642, 643, 609 N.E.2d 1217 (1993), quoting Commonwealth v. Hason, 387 Mass. 169, 174, 439 N.E.2d 251 (1982). There is probable cause to indict a suspect if there is "sufficient evidence to establish the identity of the accused, and probable cause to arrest him or her." Commonwealth v. Caracciola, 409 Mass. 648, 650, 569 N.E.2d 774 (1991). See Commonwealth v. Fourteen Thousand Two Hundred Dollars, 421 Mass. 1, 9, 653 N.E.2d 153 (1995). The term imports a higher standard when a District Court judge at a probable cause hearing decides whether a criminal defendant should be held for trial. Id. at 8, 653 N.E.2d 153. Probable cause to hold a defendant for trial requires the Commonwealth to present evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction (the "directed verdict" rule). See Commonwealth v. Fourteen Thousand Two Hundred Dollars, supra at 8, 653 N.E.2d 153; Myers v. Commonwealth, 363 Mass. 843, 850, 298 N.E.2d 819 (1973).

Constitutional standards for the reasonableness of a search or seizure based on a warrant require that there be "a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place" (Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 [1983] ), or that the issuing magistrate have "a substantial basis for concluding that any of the articles described in the warrant are probably in the place to be searched" (Commonwealth v. Upton, 394 Mass. 363, 370, 476 N.E.2d 548 [1985] ). See Commonwealth v. Neilson, 423 Mass. 75, 77 n. 3, 666 N.E.2d 984 (1996). This probability standard does not mean that it must appear more likely than not that the items are in a particular place...