• Call Us: 617-758-8888
  • Office Locations: Boston | Salem | Cape Cod
Find us on Social Media:
Coughlin Law | Criminal & DUI Defense
  • Home
  • Criminal Defense
    • Administrative Licensing
    • Appeals and Post-Conviction
    • Assault Crimes and Offenses
      • Domestic Violence
      • Violent Crime
    • Drug Lawyer in Boston
      • Drug Trafficking and Distribution
    • Clerk Magistrate Hearing
    • Federal Criminal Attorney
      • Federal Civil Forfeiture Attorney
    • Gun Possession
    • Larceny and Theft Defense
    • Motor Vehicle Violations
    • Probation Lawyer
    • Restraining Harassment Prevention Orders
    • Robbery and Armed Robbery Defense
    • Sexual Assault and Other Sex Crimes
      • Rape Defense Lawyer
      • Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
      • Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
      • Indecent Exposure and Open and Gross Lewdness
    • FAQ: Criminal Defense
      • What are your rights when you are arrested?
      • What is Pretrial Probation?
  • OUI / DUI
    • Vehicular Homicide Lawyer
    • License Suspended For DUI (OAS for OUI)
    • First Offense DUI in Boston
    • Second Offense DUI in Boston
    • Third Offense DUI and Higher (Felony DUI)
    • DUI Serious Bodily Injury
    • Encore Boston DUI
    • The BRAVE Act: Building OUI Defense for Veterans
    • FAQ: DUI
      • What are Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)?
      • What Happens When I Fail a Breathalyzer Test
      • What Happens When You Refuse the Breathalyzer Test?
  • About
    • Christopher B. Coughlin
    • Jon A. Ciraulo
  • Blog
    • Articles
    • Attorneys
    • Criminal
    • Domestic
    • DUI
    • News
    • New Hampshire
    • Results
    • Uncategorized
  • Client Center
    • Client Login
    • Make A Payment
    • Resources and Links
  • Contact
    • Boston Office
    • Salem Office
    • Cape Cod Office
Coughlin Law | Criminal & DUI Defense
Call Us: 617-758-8888
  • Home
  • Criminal Defense
    • Administrative Licensing
    • Appeals and Post-Conviction
    • Assault Crimes and Offenses
      • Domestic Violence
      • Violent Crime
    • Drug Lawyer in Boston
      • Drug Trafficking and Distribution
    • Clerk Magistrate Hearing
    • Federal Criminal Attorney
      • Federal Civil Forfeiture Attorney
    • Gun Possession
    • Larceny and Theft Defense
    • Motor Vehicle Violations
    • Probation Lawyer
    • Restraining Harassment Prevention Orders
    • Robbery and Armed Robbery Defense
    • Sexual Assault and Other Sex Crimes
      • Rape Defense Lawyer
      • Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
      • Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
      • Indecent Exposure and Open and Gross Lewdness
    • FAQ: Criminal Defense
      • What are your rights when you are arrested?
      • What is Pretrial Probation?
  • OUI / DUI
    • Vehicular Homicide Lawyer
    • License Suspended For DUI (OAS for OUI)
    • First Offense DUI in Boston
    • Second Offense DUI in Boston
    • Third Offense DUI and Higher (Felony DUI)
    • DUI Serious Bodily Injury
    • Encore Boston DUI
    • The BRAVE Act: Building OUI Defense for Veterans
    • FAQ: DUI
      • What are Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)?
      • What Happens When I Fail a Breathalyzer Test
      • What Happens When You Refuse the Breathalyzer Test?
  • About
    • Christopher B. Coughlin
    • Jon A. Ciraulo
  • Blog
    • Articles
    • Attorneys
    • Criminal
    • Domestic
    • DUI
    • News
    • New Hampshire
    • Results
    • Uncategorized
  • Client Center
    • Client Login
    • Make A Payment
    • Resources and Links
  • Contact
    • Boston Office
    • Salem Office
    • Cape Cod Office
  • Home
  • Criminal Defense
    • Administrative Licensing
    • Appeals and Post-Conviction
    • Assault Crimes and Offenses
      • Domestic Violence
      • Violent Crime
    • Drug Lawyer in Boston
      • Drug Trafficking and Distribution
    • Clerk Magistrate Hearing
    • Federal Criminal Attorney
      • Federal Civil Forfeiture Attorney
    • Gun Possession
    • Larceny and Theft Defense
    • Motor Vehicle Violations
    • Probation Lawyer
    • Restraining Harassment Prevention Orders
    • Robbery and Armed Robbery Defense
    • Sexual Assault and Other Sex Crimes
      • Rape Defense Lawyer
      • Child Pornography Defense Lawyer
      • Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
      • Indecent Exposure and Open and Gross Lewdness
    • FAQ: Criminal Defense
      • What are your rights when you are arrested?
      • What is Pretrial Probation?
  • OUI / DUI
    • Vehicular Homicide Lawyer
    • License Suspended For DUI (OAS for OUI)
    • First Offense DUI in Boston
    • Second Offense DUI in Boston
    • Third Offense DUI and Higher (Felony DUI)
    • DUI Serious Bodily Injury
    • Encore Boston DUI
    • The BRAVE Act: Building OUI Defense for Veterans
    • FAQ: DUI
      • What are Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)?
      • What Happens When I Fail a Breathalyzer Test
      • What Happens When You Refuse the Breathalyzer Test?
  • About
    • Christopher B. Coughlin
    • Jon A. Ciraulo
  • Blog
    • Articles
    • Attorneys
    • Criminal
    • Domestic
    • DUI
    • News
    • New Hampshire
    • Results
    • Uncategorized
  • Client Center
    • Client Login
    • Make A Payment
    • Resources and Links
  • Contact
    • Boston Office
    • Salem Office
    • Cape Cod Office
Coughlin Law | Criminal & DUI Defense
617-758-8888
Call Us: 617-758-8888
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Why You Need a Lawyer for a Boston Clerk Magistrate Hearing

Why You Need a Lawyer for a Boston Clerk Magistrate Hearing

By: Christopher Coughlin 2019-10-16 no comments
  • Articles
  • Criminal
  • Uncategorized
no comments
Share This Post
Categories:
  • Articles
  • Criminal
  • Uncategorized
Tags:

Why You Need a Lawyer for a Boston Clerk Magistrate Hearing

While many people assume that criminal activity of any sort will result in an immediate arrest and arraignment, this is not necessarily the case. In Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 218, the state has placed guidelines around this practice, meaning that police officers are limited in their ability to place you under arrest for certain misdemeanor-level offenses. If an officer does not observe you committing the offense firsthand but suspects you of wrongdoing, you may instead be asked to appear at a clerk magistrate hearing. Read on to learn more about these proceedings, as well as whether you should hire legal representation for this occasion.

What is a “Show Cause” Hearing?

Clerk magistrate hearings, often referred to as “show cause” or “probable cause” hearings, exist to ascertain whether there is sufficient cause for the issuance of a criminal complaint. There are two primary outcomes of these hearings: the magistrate may decide that no criminal complaint is warranted, or it may be determined that you will face criminal charges.

In a clerk magistrate hearing, you are not a criminal defendant – rather, at this stage, you are considered a respondent. You will receive a notice of the officer’s complaint and a date for the hearing via regular US mail. Many people make the mistake of overlooking the severity of these notices, but these hearings make the difference between criminal proceedings and the swift resolution of any legal issues – the way you choose to handle it matters a great deal.

The hearing itself will consist of the complainant – the officer in question – outlining their version of events. There will also be a time for you to defend yourself. Contrary to popular belief, the citing officer does not always need to be physically present in order to testify for a clerk magistrate hearing. In instances of civil violations, the police department may instead provide a copy of the citation or a police report as evidence against you. However, these citations are not conclusive, and events may be successfully contested by a legal professional on your behalf.

The Value of Legal Representation

In clerk magistrate hearings, the stakes are high. While this process is intimidating on the surface, with adequate representation, it is possible to walk away scot free. A seasoned criminal defense attorney will utilize their years of experience to identify weaknesses in the complainant’s accusations. Having a skilled lawyer on your side can make the difference between a criminal record and successful navigation of your clerk magistrate hearing. This representative will advocate on your behalf and can also advise you about specifics of the process, such as whether or not you should testify.

Every year, the state of Massachusetts sees hundreds of thousands of criminal complaints resulting from these hearings. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the importance of seeking counsel at this phase of the proceedings – they do not fully comprehend the weight of “show cause” hearings until it’s too late. A skilled, knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer is the best asset you can have in this scenario.

Your Experienced Clerk Magistrate Hearing Lawyer

Have you received a summons to appear for a Boston clerk magistrate hearing? The legal team at Coughlin Law Group has represented countless people just like you. If you are accused of a crime, you need the highest quality representation available. Our seasoned trial lawyers are prepared to advocate on your behalf, protect your rights, and construct a concrete defense. Call (617) 758-8888 for your free consultation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Latest Posts

Boston Probation Violation Lawyer | Have You Violated Your Probation?
2020-03-04
By: Christopher Coughlin
Accused of Domestic Violence?
2020-01-22
By: Christopher Coughlin
Brunch OUI | Massachusetts Daytime Drunk Driving
2019-12-18
By: Christopher Coughlin
What Should I Wear to Court?
2019-11-20
By: Christopher Coughlin

Popular Categories

Articles

Articles

Attorneys

Attorneys

Criminal

Criminal

Domestic

Domestic

DUI

DUI

News

News

NH

NH

Results

Results

Uncategorized

Uncategorized

What our clients say

Chris was very knowledgeable and shared his expertise upfront in the process regarding my case. Chris is a true professional. I highly recommend Chris and his team to handle your or a loved one’s case.

man in suit smiling
Craig B.

Coughlin Law Group

35 India Street Suite 3 Boston, MA 02110

Phone: 617.758.8888 | Fax: 855.758.8811

Free Consultation. Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Criminal Defense
  • OUI / DUI Defense

© 2020 by the Coughlin Law Group, PC. All rights reserved. | Site Map

Coughlin Law Group

35 India Street Suite 3 Boston, MA 02110

Phone: 617.758.8888 | Fax: 855.758.8811