After hearing from both sides, Justice Wendlandt denied the emergency request for relief. The court's decision meant that there would be no stay of the mistrial ruling and no order requiring further inquiry into the alleged juror issue at that stage.
Attorneys: Clancy insanity defense faces steep odds at trial
With the SJC's decision announced, Judge Sullivan called the court back into session around 2:20 p.m. and confirmed that the emergency appeal had been rejected. He then proceeded to formally declare a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder case and discharged the jurors.
The defense argued that intervention was necessary to avoid an avoidable mistrial in a case that is so time- and labor-intensive and that has captured so much public attention, and to preserve the defendant's right to a fair trial by unbiased jurors applying the law.
