The legal battle surrounding Lindsay Clancy’s case has intensified after the attorney representing the lone holdout juror sharply criticized a motion filed by Clancy’s defense team.

The motion, filed by defense attorney Kevin Reddington, asks the court to examine the conduct and background of juror Michael Péguy Desronvil, who was the only juror to favor a murder conviction during the trial. Desronvil’s attorney, Edward Paltzik, has strongly objected to the request and argued that it could have broader implications for the jury system.

Defense Seeks Review of Holdout Juror
Clancy’s five-week trial ended in a mistrial on September 4 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision following several days of deliberations.

According to court filings reported by the Associated Press and ABC News, Reddington asked Judge William Sullivan to conduct a limited inquiry into Desronvil’s conduct. The defense has raised questions about whether the juror accurately answered portions of his jury questionnaire and whether he used his cellphone during deliberations.

The defense has also requested that the court preserve and review certain records, including jury questionnaires, notes, court logs and information related to Desronvil’s cellphone activity.

Phone use during jury deliberations is prohibited under Massachusetts rules, according to reports on the case. However, the request itself does not establish that Desronvil violated those rules.

Juror’s Attorney Objects
Paltzik, who represents Desronvil, has strongly rejected the defense request.

In a statement reported by multiple news organizations, he characterized the motion as an attack on constitutional protections surrounding jury service. He argued that allowing attorneys to investigate individual jurors because they disagreed with the rest of a panel could create concerns for future cases.

Paltzik also defended Desronvil’s position during the deliberations. The juror previously said publicly that he did not have doubts about his position and that his conclusion was based on the evidence presented during the trial.

The dispute therefore centers not only on what happened inside the jury room, but also on how far courts should go when examining a juror’s conduct after a mistrial.

Why the Jury Became Deadlocked
Several jurors who later spoke publicly described the deliberations as an 11-1 split.

The majority reportedly supported a verdict finding Clancy not criminally responsible because of her defense that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis when her three children died. Desronvil, however, maintained that the evidence supported the prosecution’s position that Clancy understood her actions.

Desronvil later disputed descriptions of his conduct during deliberations, saying that he did not have doubts about the prosecution’s case and that his position was based on the evidence.

Defense Also Seeks to End the Case
The dispute over the juror comes alongside another major legal request from Clancy’s defense team.

Reddington and fellow defense attorney Martin Weinberg have asked the court to dismiss the charges rather than allow prosecutors to retry the case. Their filing argues, among other things, that the mistrial and circumstances surrounding the jury deadlock raise constitutional concerns involving double jeopardy.

Prosecutors have not publicly announced whether they intend to pursue another trial.

A court conference is scheduled for September 29, when the next steps in the case could become clearer.

Case Remains Under Court Review
The disagreement between Clancy’s defense team and the holdout juror’s attorney highlights the complicated legal questions left after the mistrial.

At this stage, the allegations concerning Desronvil’s conduct remain matters raised by the defense and have not been established as wrongdoing. Likewise, Paltzik’s constitutional arguments represent the position of the juror’s legal team.

The court will ultimately determine whether the requested inquiry is appropriate and whether Clancy’s case should proceed to another trial or be dismissed.

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