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.
SJC
CPCS petitions SJC to release jailed defendants amid attorney shortage
Amid a spiraling shortage of court-appointed defense attorneys, the state’s top court is being asked to release jailed indigent defendants left without lawyers — including more than a dozen in Middlesex County — as hundreds of people statewide remain unrepresented.
Massachusetts First Amendment case: Harmony Montgomery’s custody hearing audio to be released
Massachusetts First Amendment case: Harmony Montgomery’s custody hearing audio to be released
Massachusetts SJC rejects bid for new trial in Philip Chism murder case
Convicted murderer Philip Chism, who was sentenced to life in jail for the brutal rape and slay Danvers math teacher Collen Ritzer, has lost his bids for a new trial and for his conviction to be tossed.
Massachusetts firefighter safety grants contingent on compliance with transit housing law
Municipalities in Massachusetts must comply with a controversial transit-oriented housing law in order to receive state grant money for firefighter safety equipment, a change fire chiefs said they found out about late Wednesday afternoon.
Portrait of late Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants unveiled at courthouse
Members of the Massachusetts legal community gathered at the John Adams Courthouse Wednesday for the unveiling of a portrait of the later SJC Chief Justice Ralph Gants.
