LOWELL — Defendants facing charges including armed robbery and drug trafficking were released from custody on Wednesday at the Kiernan Judicial Center, as trial courts in Middlesex and Suffolk counties began holding emergency Lavallee Protocol hearings at the Lowell-based courthouse in response to a statewide shortage of court-appointed attorneys.
Lowell
‘Strong medicine’: SJC orders courts to begin potential release of indigent defendants as right-to-counsel crisis hits breaking point
BOSTON — Declaring a “systemic violation” of constitutional rights, Massachusetts’ highest court on Thursday ordered trial courts in Middlesex and Suffolk counties to begin hearings that could lead to the release of jailed defendants and dismissal of charges against individuals who remain unrepresented.
‘Completely against our culture’: Ousted Market Basket officials speak out about ‘pre-planned attack’
Like many longtime employees of the eastern New England grocery chain, Joe Schmidt and Tom Gordon started as associates at Market Basket and worked their way up. Now, they fear the unique culture of Market Basket is at risk as a result of board maneuvers that have at least temporarily ousted them, CEO Arthur T. Demoulas and others amid an ongoing Demoulas family feud over succession.
‘Good Vibrations’ as The Beach Boys and John Stamos rock out for MCC Celebrity Forum
LOWELL — The Lowell Memorial Auditorium was rocking Tuesday night as legendary rock band The Beach Boys and longtime friend of the band John Stamos performed for the annual Middlesex Community College Celebrity Forum.
State aims to turn its surplus properties into housing
LOWELL — The Healey-Driscoll administration threw open the doors to more housing in the commonwealth during an announcement at an inaugural Developers’ Fair held in Downtown Boston Monday morning.
Customers react to Market Basket CEO being placed on paid leave
LOWELL — A day after the latest Market Basket family feud came to light, it was unclear whether this will be a repeat of the 2014 saga, but the weeks of protests 11 years ago were still on the minds of some customers.
