MACDL is the pre-eminent Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Massachusetts. We are an affiliate of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. MACDL is formed exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes which include, but are not limited to, the following purposes:
- To provide support for criminal defense lawyers in the practice of their craft, including, but not limited to, a strike force, amicus briefs, and other services which will improve the quality of representation of the accused;
- To protect the individual rights of the citizens of the Commonwealth as guaranteed by the Declaration of Rights of the Massachusetts Constitution and the United States Constitution, including, most particularly, the right to counsel;
- To promote the exchange of experience, legal precedent, and research among criminal defense lawyers throughout the Commonwealth;
To enlighten the public about the legitimate role of criminal defense lawyers in society; - To maintain the integrity and independence of criminal defense lawyers;
- To preserve the adversary system of justice;
- To coordinate efforts with national and local bar associations that are concerned with criminal justice.
MACDL Officers and Directors 2019
Officers
President: Derege Demissie
Attorney Demissie is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, the Federal District Court Bar, First Circuit Court of Appeals Bar, and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Bar. He is an experienced litigator and trial attorney in both criminal and civil cases. He has tried over 50 complex jury trials in state and federal courts and argued several times before the Massachusetts Appellate Court, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney Demissie advises and represents both individuals and businesses.
President-Elect: Victoria Kelleher
Immediate Past President: Michael Hussey
Attorney Hussey works at Murphy and Rudolf in Worcester where he practices criminal law in state and federal court. He is a former career public defender with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, serving as the Attorney-in-Charge of the Worcester office from 1994 until his retirement in 2017.
Treasurer: Brian E. Murphy
Brian E. Murphy focuses his practice on criminal defense in the district, superior and federal courts. Mr. Murphy has spent his entire career focused on defending those accused of crime and advocating for them both in Court and in the various administrative proceedings that often accompany prosecutions. He primarily handles serious criminal matters with special focus on white collar offenses, complicated sex offense accusations, drunk driving allegations, violent crime and post-conviction and appellate advocacy. He also handles select civil matters. Mr. Murphy graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and from Columbia Law School where he was a James Kent Scholar and the Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review.
Board of Directors
John H. Cunha, Jr. (past president)
James Dilday
Marissa Elkins
Anne C. Goldbach (past president)
Peter C. Horstmann
Elizabeth A. Lunt (past president)
John Amabile, Chair
Amicus CuriaeChauncey Wood, Chair
Events and Awards
Laura Mannion and Jane Peachy, Chairs
Continuing Legal Education and Programs
Laura Mannion, Chair
Legislation
Howard Cooper, Chair
Membership
Shira Diner and Emily Shulman, Chairs
Federal Practice Committee
Jane Peachy and William Fick, Chairs
Communications and Social Media
Ruth O’Meara-Costello, Chair
Finance
Brian Murphy, Chair
Young Lawyers Division
(Chair Open)