Mass. Criminal Defense Lawyers Say Legislature Hasn’t Really Solved Court Crisis

The public defender crisis isn't just a Massachusetts problem

From Oregon to Massachusetts, states are struggling to maintain a roster of attorneys to take on public defense cases. The number of cases is rising while more attorneys are balking at what they say are low rates of pay to do the work.

Massachusetts public defender strike triggers mass release of inmates and case dismissals

More than 100 criminal cases in Boston, including with serious charges such as domestic violence, have been thrown out due to a monthslong shortage of public defenders on strike over low wages. The dismissals, in addition to a mass release of inmates facing trial, precipitate from a compounding crisis of overworked and underpaid defense attorneys, which is not just consuming Massachusetts. Last week, Judge Tracy-Lee Lyons, chief justice of Bosto…

Mass. criminal defense lawyers say Legislature hasn’t really solved court crisis

Criminal defense lawyers across Massachusetts say lawmakers might have given bar advocates a raise — but their solution is nowhere near fixing the current constitutional and public safety crisis.