Bill > S1070

This bill proposes to remove the specific language about petit treason from Chapter 265, Section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which currently states that "Petit treason shall be prosecuted and punished as murder." Petit treason is a historical legal concept that traditionally referred to a subordinate killing their superior (such as a servant killing their master, or a wife killing her husband), which was once considered a distinct and more serious crime than standard murder. By removing this specific provision, the bill appears to be eliminating the distinct legal category of petit treason and likely treating such crimes under standard murder statutes. The removal suggests a modernization of the legal code, moving away from an archaic legal distinction that is no longer considered relevant in contemporary criminal law.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1070