Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today released the following statement on the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Marcos Rodriguez:

“Justice Spina is absolutely correct in his dissent when he says calls this decision ‘absurd.’ This novel interpretation of a long established rule means that prosecutors, the elected voice of the people, are now the only party in a courtroom who will be held to their word.

“Judges are no longer required to honor the terms of any agreement that protects the public’s interest – only a defendant’s interest. Justice Spina is also correct in recognizing the damaging effect this decision could have for the swift administration of justice as a whole as prosecutors are left with no assurances that the rights of victims or the interests of the public safety will be honored.

“Fortunately, Justice Spina and even the concurring justices recognize the very real risk of a severe slowdown in the criminal justice system and a tragic loss of confidence in the courts by victims of crime and the citizens of Massachusetts. I could not agree more and am urging the SJC’s rules committee to act with all deliberate speed to adopt corrective language in order to avoid any adverse consequences from this ruling.”