Mass ACLU: Michelle Carter conviction ‘imperils free speech’ – Boston.com

The guilty verdict in the sensational suicide-by-texting caseimmediately unleashed both criticism and praise from legal and free speech experts, underscoring its impact on future court cases.

Michelle Carter was found guiltyFriday of involuntary manslaughter in death ofConrad Roy III, her boyfriend, who intentionally filled his truck with carbon monoxide in a store parking lot in July 2014. She sent Roy a barrage of text messages urging him to kill himself leading up to his suicide. Carter had pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Matthew Segal, the head of the Massachusetts branch of the American Civil Liberties Union,criticized Bristol County Juvenile Court Judge Lawrence Monizs decision, tweeting that Carters conviction expands Massachusetts criminal law and imperils free speech.

In an official statement released by the Massachusetts ACLU, Segal states that, underMassachusetts law, it is not illegal to encourage, or even persuade, someone to commit suicide. If Carters conviction stands during the appeal process, Segal says it will chill important and worthwhile end-of-life discussions in the Commonwealth.

A statement from Martin W. Healy, chief legal counsel tothe Massachusetts Bar Association, seemed to support Monizs decision, saying that Carters fatewas sealed through the use of her own words.

The communications illustrated a deeply troubled defendant whose actions rose to the level of wanton and reckless disregard for the life of the victim, Healy said.

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Mass ACLU: Michelle Carter conviction 'imperils free speech' - Boston.com