News and Action Alerts

News2025-03-25T18:43:34-04:00

Response to the Attack on the Legal Profession

The Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) condemns the March 22, 2025, Presidential Memorandum titled, “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court.” As the only statewide association of criminal defense attorneys, we strive to preserve the adversarial system of justice and protect the rights of persons charged with crimes. The President’s Memorandum is a transparent attempt to chill our professional duty and moral obligation […]

By |March 25th, 2025|Categories: Board Messages|Comments Off on Response to the Attack on the Legal Profession

Call to Action

Has the rollout of recent executive orders left you variously enraged and overwhelmed?

MACDL rejects all action taken by the current federal administration to deny our clients’ rights, especially those who are most marginalized and vulnerable. To this end, we have convened a working group to review the current and future federal policies, educate our members as to how these policies are likely to […]

By |February 26th, 2025|Categories: Action Alert, News|Comments Off on Call to Action

President’s Letter, July 2024

It is hard to believe that it is already July and summer is in full swing. MACDL has been busy advocating for lawyers and clients in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am pleased to provide you all with several updates on our organization’s efforts to create an effective, accessible, and fun community for new and experienced criminal defense lawyers.

To those of you who helped kick off a strong first-half […]

By |July 10th, 2024|Categories: President's Messages|Comments Off on President’s Letter, July 2024

March 2024 Bench / Bar Meeting

On March 27, 2024, the MACDL executive board joined bar leaders from other bar associations at a Bench/Bar meeting. Chief Justices Budd and Brieger along with Court Administrator Tom Ambrosino and Dr. Natoschia Scrugg, the newly appointed Chief of Access, Diversity and Fairness for the trial court, gave updates on various topics involving the operations of the courts. Below are the handouts that we received. Here are a […]

By |April 4th, 2024|Categories: News, President's Messages|Comments Off on March 2024 Bench / Bar Meeting

MACDL Forms Clemency Committee

MACDL has formed a Clemency Committee in response to the Governor’s new clemency guidelines, which hold promise for more relief. The Committee screens applicants and refers the most promising candidates to pro bono lawyers.

From Lawyers Weekly

New committee aims to streamline use of recently released clemency guidelines

by Kris Olson | March 8, 2024 | 4 minute read

By |March 12th, 2024|Categories: News|Comments Off on MACDL Forms Clemency Committee

CPCS 2023 Awards Nominations Solicited

TO: Committee Members, CPCS Staff, Bar Advocate Program Administrators,
CAFL Resource Attorneys, Juvenile Bar Association, Mental Health Litigation Division Regional Coordinators, Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Massachusetts Bar Association, and Boston Bar Association

FROM: Anthony J. Benedetti, Chief Counsel

DATE: February 10, 2023

RE: NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED FOR ADDAMS, BLITZMAN, DAVIS-DUGGAN, DONOVAN, LIACOS, MARSHALL, MCPARLAND, MELLEN, SOUTO-GOYETTE, WINCHESTER AWARDS, CPCS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, AND EMERGING DEFENDER AWARDS

Nomination Process
The Committee will present the Awards […]

By |March 6th, 2023|Categories: News|Comments Off on CPCS 2023 Awards Nominations Solicited
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