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Cambridge, MA Criminal Defense Attorney
If you were charged with a crime in Cambridge, misdemeanors and most felonies are heard in the District Court and serious felonies and indictments in the Superior Court, and the first call records the charging document, the court date, your prior record and any release conditions.
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The short answer for Cambridge
Massachusetts criminal matters proceed through the District Court for misdemeanors and most felonies and through the Superior Court for serious felonies and indictments. The intake call with Jim Glaser Law captures the charging document, court date, prior record, and conditions of release. The firm either handles the matter or connects the client with a Massachusetts criminal-defense partner attorney at no extra cost to the client. The criminal-defense partner network handles all common charge types including OUI, drug offenses, assault and battery, all forms of domestic violence (assault and battery on a family or household member under c. 265 sec. 13M, restraining-order violations under c. 209A sec. 7, restraining-order hearings under c. 209A sec. 3, and harassment-prevention-order hearings under c. 258E), larceny, and firearm offenses. Criminal-defense matters are billed on a fixed-fee or hourly basis depending on charge type and venue, addressed in the written fee agreement.
The full Massachusetts rules, statutes and typical timeline are on the criminal defense page; this page covers what is specific to Cambridge.
Courts that serve Cambridge for criminal defense matters
Under M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1, Cambridge is in the judicial district of the Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex, which also covers Arlington and Belmont. Cambridge is in Middlesex County.
| Court | What it hears | District or address |
|---|---|---|
| Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex | Arraignment on most criminal charges | Cambridge, Arlington and Belmont |
| Middlesex Superior Court | Felony cases bound over after a probable-cause hearing | 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA 01801 |
First steps
- Read the court named on your paperwork. A District Court complaint is brought in the division whose judicial district covers the place of the alleged offense (M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 26), so for an offense in Cambridge that is the Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex.
- Keep every document the police or the court gave you, including any notice from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
- Call (617) JIM-WINS before you file or appear, so the deadline and the right court are checked against your facts.
Key terms
- Judicial district
- The towns one District Court division serves, as listed in M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1. The Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex serves Cambridge, Arlington and Belmont.
- Venue
- The county or district where a case may be filed. Massachusetts sets it by where the parties live or work (M.G.L. c. 223, secs. 1 and 2).
District Court vs. Superior Court
| District Court | Superior Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical charges | Misdemeanors and most felonies | Serious felonies and indictments |
| First appearance | Arraignment | Arraignment |
| Fee structure | Fixed-fee or hourly | Fixed-fee or hourly |
Talk to the firm about your criminal defense matter
Call us 24/7 for a free case review. Or send us your details and we will reach out to you within one business day.
Common questions from Cambridge
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Which District Court covers Cambridge?
Under M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1, Cambridge is in the judicial district of the Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex, which also covers Arlington and Belmont.
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Information on this page is published as legal information, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney advertising under Mass. R. Prof. C. 7.1 to 7.5. Responsible attorney: Jim Glaser, Massachusetts.