More than 100 criminal cases could be dismissed this week in Boston as defendants go without lawyers

The Massachusetts court system grapples with a significant crisis as over 100 juvenile defendants lack legal representation due to a bar advocates' work stoppage. This situation raises the risk of case dismissals, with the Supreme Judicial Court enacting the Lavallee Protocol to mitigate the crisis. Under this protocol, defendants without counsel for seven days must be released, and cases without representation for 45 days face potential dismissal. Since the protocol's implementation, 23 defendants have been released in Suffolk and Middlesex counties. The Boston Municipal Court expects to hear around 130 dismissal cases on Tuesday, with another 225 scheduled for August 5, as other courts report hundreds more awaiting hearings.

In response, trial courts have requested additional judges to handle the increasing workload. Governor Maura Healey has expressed concerns about public safety and due process, urging for a swift resolution to the crisis. The bar advocates are seeking a nearly 54% pay increase, which was not included in the recent state budget.