On March 31, 2011, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) denied the petitioner's request for further appellate review. Commonwealth v. Blake, 459 Mass. 1107, 944 N.E.2d 1043 (Table) (Mass. March 31, 2011). On January 27, 2011, shortly after the Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed the petitioner's conviction, and just before the SJC denied his request for further review, the petitioner moved in the superior court to join Gomes' motion for a new trial.