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Criminal Defense Lawyer for New Bedford, MA
If you were charged with a crime in New Bedford, 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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What should New Bedford readers know first?
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 New Bedford.
Courts that serve New Bedford for criminal defense matters
Under M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1, New Bedford is in the judicial district of the Third District Court of Bristol, which also covers Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Freetown and Westport. New Bedford is in Bristol County.
| Court | What it hears | District or address |
|---|---|---|
| Third District Court of Bristol | Arraignment on most criminal charges | New Bedford, Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Freetown and Westport |
| Bristol Superior Court | Felony cases bound over after a probable-cause hearing | 9 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780 |
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 New Bedford that is the Third District Court of Bristol.
- 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 Bristol serves New Bedford, Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Freetown and Westport.
- 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.
What questions do New Bedford readers ask most?
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Which District Court covers New Bedford?
Under M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1, New Bedford is in the judicial district of the Third District Court of Bristol, which also covers Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Freetown and Westport.
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This sub-entry constitutes 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.