Supreme Judicial Court

The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Petersham officials improperly blocked a solar project by Sunpin Energy Services, requiring the town to conduct a site-specific analysis to reconsider the permit. The decision highlights tensions between promoting solar energy and preserving local control over land use in forested areas.

Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court removed a proposed income tax cut question from the November ballot, citing a misleading summary by the attorney general’s office. The court ruled the summary incorrectly stated the tax cut’s impact on long-term capital gains, rendering the measure ineligible for voter consideration.

Massachusetts voters approved a 2024 ballot question granting the state auditor authority to audit the Legislature. The House passed a bill narrowing this authority to four limited categories, restricting access to supporting documents, and barring courts from resolving audit disputes, which critics argue undermines judicial review and transparency.