Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court March 24, 1981 (Commonwealth v. Moffett)

Hennessey, C.J.

In this case we decide for the first time what procedures should be adopted to implement the constitutional principle of

Anders

v.

California,

386 U.S. 738 (1967). To that end, we consider the nature and extent of appointed counsel’s duty to represent an indigent criminal defendant on appeal, when counsel believes the appeal is frivolous.