The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has overturned the sex trafficking convictions of Anthony Dew, a Black Muslim man, due to a significant conflict of interest involving his deceased defense attorney, Richard Doyle. Doyle's online history, discovered posthumously, revealed a pattern of racist and anti-Muslim social media posts, which the court deemed a violation of Dew's right to effective counsel.
The court's unanimous decision emphasized the critical importance of impartial legal representation within the criminal justice system. They highlighted the egregious nature of Doyle's online activity, noting his "vitriolic hatred of and bigotry against persons of the Muslim faith" and his "equal scorn for and racism against Black persons." This bias, the court argued, fundamentally undermined Dew's right to a fair trial.
Dew's appeals lawyer, Edward Gaffney, expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, confirming their stance that Dew's constitutional rights had been violated. Gaffney acknowledged the unusual nature of the case, stating its unique circumstances made it difficult to find legal precedent.
The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which supported Dew's appeal, lauded the court's acknowledgment of the defense attorney's blatant prejudice. CAIR Legal Director Barbara Dougan emphasized the challenges marginalized communities face in accessing justice and praised the court for refusing to downplay the severity of Doyle's hateful rhetoric.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's office now faces the decision of whether to retry the case, dismiss the charges, or pursue a new plea agreement. Spokesperson Jim Borghesani condemned Doyle's bigoted statements as "reprehensible" and affirmed the importance of unbiased legal representation. The office is currently reviewing the case to determine its next steps.
The court's decision detailed several instances of Doyle's discriminatory behavior towards Dew. On one occasion, Doyle demanded Dew remove his kufi, a Muslim prayer cap. In another instance, he left a meeting without speaking to Dew after seeing him wearing the kufi. Dew, unaware of Doyle's online bigotry, accepted a plea deal in 2016, pleading guilty to all charges except rape, which was dismissed. He was subsequently sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Dew discovered Doyle's offensive social media posts in 2021, the same year Doyle passed away. The posts included anti-Muslim slurs, calls for violence against Muslims, mockery of Black individuals, and derogatory comments about his own clients. Following this discovery, Dew filed a motion for a new trial and sought to withdraw his guilty pleas. A lower court denied his motion, leading to the appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court.
