Legal Overviews

Help Yourself Online

If you are reading this post, chances are that you have at least one and probably multiple social media accounts. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. are all great platforms to share your passions and stay connected with friends and family. But what you share can also be used by people who are not your friends.

Take, for instance, the case of an auto accident. If you have been injured and are seeking compensation, you must be sure […]

Dangerous Weapons

Massachusetts laws are often written in colorful or archaic language. One such example concerns the offense of “Carrying a Dangerous Weapon” (M.G.L. ch. 269 §10).

Subsection (b) of this law deals with non-firearm weapons, and begins by enumerating a long list of weapons that are inherently dangerous, including a:

“stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife . . . dirk knife, any […]

Bail: What you need to know.

Bail is a very important matter for those facing criminal charges. At arraignment, the Commonwealth, though the Assistant District Attorney, will often request bail. The Defense Attorney will also make a bail request, and then the judge must decide how much bail, if any, to impose.

A recent decision by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has outlined the factors to be considered in setting bail. The most important development from this new ruling, Brangan v. Commonwealth […]

On Civil Disobedience

A quick word to friends who are considering engaging in civil disobedience. Be prepared! If you disobey police orders, you are subject to arrest.

The police have broad power to enforce public order. During a protest, instigators are subject to arrest for “public order offenses” such as affray and disturbing the peace. Though the Boston Police tend not to arrest people in en-masse, if you repeatedly disobey an officer’s order, you will probably be arrested. (Note, State Police and Federal law […]

Overview of the Massachusetts Court System

The Massachusetts court system is vast and can be confusing, especially for litigants going it alone, or pro se. Although we may think ourselves expert DIY-ers, attempting to navigate the courts without an attorney is akin to navigating Boston Harbor without a chart… you might make it, but the chance of running aground on submerged hazards is high.

Trial Courts

District Courts are the rough-and-tumble bedrock of the court system; there are 62 of them in cities and towns throughout the […]

By |2020-11-01T17:38:15+00:00November 11, 2014|Court System, Legal Overviews|0 Comments
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