Today on "This Week" Governor Patrick said that in Massachusetts we solve our budget problems by "turning to" each other not "turning on" each other. At the Roundtable Governor Patrick made his comment about turning to each other not … [Read more...]
Patronage or Gross Incompetence?
Governor Deval Patrick is the man who appointed his campaign driver as Chairman of the Parole Board. Given this history, he cannot be trusted to radically tamper with the criminal justice system. That is one of the many reasons why … [Read more...]
Today’s Boston Globe’s front page has a split personality
Unfortunately, I personally have no way to validate or invalidate the statistics I get from either DAs or The Committee for Public Counsel Services. According to the DAs, there are no funds they receive except staff salaries. … [Read more...]
Thank you Boston Herald and Lowell Sun!
Governor Patrick's proposal to dismantle the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) and move the constitutionally mandated defense of indigent Massachusetts residents into the executive branch is poorly thought out. This … [Read more...]
Gov Patrick’s plan to destroy private indigent defense and hire a minimum of 1500
But private lawyers, known as bar advocates, say they perform a valuable service at a low cost. "I'm surprised the governor would want to eliminate a successful, privatized group of very economically independent contractors,'' said Deborah … [Read more...]
My letter in the Boston Globe speaks for itself
Here is a link to the letter just in case you are interested. No one thinks much about court-appointed attorneys - until they need one or someone they care about needs indigent defense. … [Read more...]
My letter in the Arlington Advocate
My letter in the Arlington Advocate supporting Deval Patrick for a second term as governor. As many here know, I do not agree with Governor Patrick about everything, most certainly about indigent defense or court funding. However, his … [Read more...]
Vast expansion of restraining orders – protection or threat?
Mike Rich's blog post brought this new law, Chapter 23 or the Acts of 2010 to my attention. The list of items for which one 16 year old can now get a restraining order against another 16 year old is almost endless. This new law allows … [Read more...]
Indigent defense – a core, mandated, constitutional requirement
Here is why the Governor's proposal regarding indigent defense should be overturned in the legislature in favor of current practices and constitutional requirements. If indigent people are arrested, pursuant to the United States … [Read more...]
Were guardians ad litem and indigent defense thrown under the budget bus?
Go to http://www.mass.gov/bb/h1/fy11... Line item 0321-1500 is "staff" Line item 0321-1510 is "independent contractors" - private attorneys who accept court appointments in child welfare, mental health, and criminal cases. I … [Read more...]