Richard Cepulonis, a Massachusetts inmate, appeals from the denial of his petition pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3, by a single justice of this court. We dismiss the appeal as moot. In his petition, Cepulonis essentially sought an order requiring prison officials to "dismiss" a second disciplinary charge while his appeal from a first disciplinary charge was pending. Such relief is now academic. The Superior Court's judgment with respect to the first charge -- in favor of the superintendent -- has been affirmed on appeal. Cepulonis v. Superintendent, Mass. Correctional Inst., Shirley, 52 Mass. App. Ct. 1106 (2001). Cepulonis's application for further appellate review was denied. 435 Mass. 1103 (2001).

Because the appeal is moot, we need not discuss the various bases on which the single justice's judgment denying Cepulonis's G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition would have been affirmed.

Appeal dismissed.

The case was submitted on the papers filed, accompanied by a memorandum of law.

Richard Cepulonis, pro se.

Alton Clarke appeals from the denial of his petition pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3, by a single justice of this court. We dismiss the appeal as moot.

Clarke was indicted on several charges related to an aggravated sexual assault, including rape and kidnapping. His first trial in the Superior Court ended in a mistrial, due to the jury's inability to reach a verdict. Clarke was retried and convicted on two counts of rape and kidnapping. The Appeals Court reversed the judgments and set aside the verdicts, holding that the prosecutor had improperly used Clarke's right to remain silent against him in closing argument. Commonwealth v. Clarke, 48 Mass. App. Ct. 482 (2000).

Following the Appeals Court's decision, Clarke filed a motion to dismiss the indictments in the Superior Court, arguing for the first time that double jeopardy principles barred his retrial. The motion was denied.

Clarke then filed a petition pursuant to G. L. c. 211, § 3, in the county court, requesting dismissal of the indictments against him on the same double jeopardy ground as set forth in his motion to dismiss. A single justice of this

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court denied the petition on the merits. Clarke appealed to the full court. [Note 1] While Clarke's appeal has been pending, he was retried and convicted of the rape and kidnapping charges in the Superior Court. [Note 2] Clarke has appealed from his convictions to the Appeals Court.

By filing his petition, Clarke was seeking to avoid retrial on the basis of double jeopardy. The specific relief he sought is no longer available as he has been retried and convicted. Thus, his appeal is moot. Commonwealth v. Preston, 396 Mass. 1006, 1006 (1985) (because defendant was retried and convicted during pendency of appeal from single justice's judgment, "question whether [he] was entitled to G. L. c. 211, § 3, relief is now moot"). Cf. Rasten v. Northeastern Univ., 432 Mass. 1003, 1003 (2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1168 (2001) ("[t]he limited matter before us -- Rasten's appeal from the single justice's judgment -- is moot because the hearing that she sought to have continued took place as scheduled"); Harvey v. Harvey, 424 Mass. 1009, 1009 (1997) ("[t]he main relief sought by the petitioner was an order compelling the Probate and Family Court . . . to schedule a trial . . . [t]hat aspect of the petition has become moot because the divorce case was tried and a judgment entered while this appeal has been pending"). Clarke's double jeopardy argument can adequately be raised (along with any other claimed errors) in his direct appeal from his convictions at the third trial. See Commonwealth v. Preston, supra at 1006 ("the defendant's contention that the evidence at his first trial was insufficient to warrant a conviction can now be raised at least as well in the appeal following his second trial as it could have been raised under G. L. c. 211, § 3"); Commonwealth v. Preston, 27 Mass. App. Ct. 16, 17 (1989) (addressing double jeopardy claim in direct appeal following retrial). See also Creighton v. Commonwealth, 423 Mass. 1001, 1002 (1996) (petitioner not entitled to relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3; double jeopardy claim could "of course, be raised in a direct appeal from a conviction after a second trial"); Neverson v. Commonwealth, 406 Mass. 174, 175-176 n.2 (1989) (same).

Appeal dismissed.

Richard A. Cutter for the plaintiff.

Amanda Lovell, Assistant District Attorney (Robert N. Tochka, Assistant District Attorney, with her) for the Commonwealth.