On June 28, 2004, indigent criminal defendants as well as minors involved in child welfare cases filed a lawsuit in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court alleging that Massachusetts' system of indigent defense was unconstitutional due to the exceptionally low compensation rates of appointed ...
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On June 28, 2004, indigent criminal defendants as well as minors involved in child welfare cases filed a lawsuit in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court alleging that Massachusetts' system of indigent defense was unconstitutional due to the exceptionally low compensation rates of appointed counsel. Plaintiffs were represented by a private law firm. Upon filing the claim, a motion to certify the class was made. That motion was never decided upon.
On November 1, 2004, the court (Greaney, J.) ordered a stay of the proceedings due to pending action by the legislature to increase counsel compensation rates. The legislature substantially increased the pay rates for appointed counsel, and on October 30, 2007, the court dismissed the case on grounds of mootness.
We have no further information on this matter.
Dayna Frenkel - 02/18/2009
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