BOSTON — Citing an ever-growing backlog of cases and the need to comply with a court-ordered deadline, Massachusetts trial courts have asked the Supreme Judicial Court to modify its July 3 order so they can assign more judges to preside over upcoming hearings for indigent defendants who have gone 45 days without legal representation.
Suffolk
Judge begins releasing defendants amid legal representation crisis
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.
‘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.
