To effectively advocate on behalf of their clients, criminal defense
attorneys practicing, or planning to practice, in the district courts of the
commonwealth need to be well-versed in not only the law, but procedure. Hon.
Barbara S. Pearson (ret.) will lead a panel of experts as they discuss the nuances of
practicing criminal law in the Massachusetts District Court. The panel will work
through hypotheticals at each stage of the following specific topics:
- Civility and professionalism
- Arraignments and bail hearings under MGL Ch. 276
- Conditions of release under Section 58, cash bail
- Section 58A dangerousness hearings
- Section 42
- Pre-trial probation
- Requests for allegations of abuse findings
- Revocation of bail requests and hearings
- MGL Ch. 123 Section 35 commitments
- Probation detention and surrender hearings
- Probable cause hearings
- Restraining order requests at time of arraignment
- Pre-trial conference reports
- Discovery issues
- Motions to dismiss
- Motions to suppress
- Rule 17 motions
- Plaintiff requests for modification of restraining
orders when there is an open criminal case
- Pleas
- Trial issues
- Voir dire
- Motions in limine
- Sentencing
This program has been approved for 3 Adult Criminal Panel/Adult Criminal
Appeals Panel/YAD Panel/YAD Appeals Panel credits.
Members of the Middlesex County, Essex County, Lowell, and Greater
Lynn bar associations may attend the program for $80. The MBA is offering a
special $25 rate for government and public sector attorneys. Please contact MBA
Member Services at (617) 338-0530 to register.
This webinar was hosted using
Zoom.
Faculty:
Hon. Barbara S. Pearson (ret.), Program Co-chair
Barry J. Bisson, Esq., Program Co-chair
Bisson Law, Boston
Hon. Matthew Machera, Panelist
Chelsea District Court, Chelsea
Sonya Brown, Esq., Panelist
Sonya Brown Attorney at Law, Lowell
Kelley Sweetser, Esq., Panelist
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Boston
Emma Sipperly, Esq., Panelist
Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Woburn
Lee Gartenberg, Esq. (ret.), Panelist