CourtAppointed

Massachusetts Faces Crisis as Hundreds Await Court-Appointed Lawyers Amid Constitutional Concerns

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Boston, Massachusetts – The ongoing issue of low compensation rates for court-appointed attorneys in Massachusetts is contributing to a notable increase in unrepresented defendants, prompting serious concerns from the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The organization has labeled the current situation a “full-blown constitutional breakdown,” as the state struggles to meet the legal needs of its most vulnerable populations. On Monday, the association reported that over 150 individuals in Boston are currently waiting for court-assigned attorneys, with nearly 40 of those individuals being held in custody without legal representation. Middlesex County mirrors this troubling … Read more

Court-Appointed Attorney Recommends Full Dismissal of Charges Against Mayor Eric Adams, Possibly Ending Legal Battle

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NEW YORK — The legal saga surrounding Mayor Eric Adams took a pivotal turn as an independent lawyer recommended that a judge should permanently dismiss the criminal charges against him, potentially ending a contentious chapter that has cast a long shadow over his administration. The recommendation came in a legal brief filed by court-appointed attorney Paul Clement, following a request from federal prosecutors to drop the charges, which has sparked considerable legal and political debate. Clement, a distinguished conservative legal figure who previously served as the U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, was … Read more

Alaska Jury Convicts Woman in 2020 Murder of Court-Appointed Supervisor

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Anchorage, Alaska – A Homer woman was declared guilty by an Anchorage jury on Monday of the first and second-degree murder of her supervising officer, highlighting a tragic case that dates back to 2020. Sarah Dayan, 39, faced accusations concerning the death of 57-year-old Keith Huss, a Kenai resident, who was appointed to oversee her following a legal order. Dayan was convicted on 15 out of the 22 charges levied against her, a decision that brought some resolution to the victim’s grieving family, who were present during the reading of the verdict. Michael Huss, the … Read more