Defense attorneys in Massachusetts have enacted a work stoppage, refusing to take indigent cases in a bid for higher wages. This has resulted in the release of defendants, including those charged with serious offenses, due to lack of representation. Most indigent defendants rely on bar advocates, who earn $65 per hour, less than those in surrounding states. The recent state budget does not include raises for these advocates, prompting calls for a significant pay increase from 2022 levels, highlighting a systemic issue in legal representation.
Defense attorneys across Massachusetts are enacting a work stoppage to protest low wages. As a result, dozens of defendants are being released without legal representation.
Bar advocates in Massachusetts currently earn $65 per hour for district court cases, which is less than their counterparts in neighboring states, and seek an increase of around $35.
Collection
[
|
...
]