Charged in Marlborough District Court?

Marlborough is a small division covering just two communities, so its sessions are comparatively compact and familiar.

Most district court cases start at arraignment, where the charge is read, a plea of not guilty is entered for you, and conditions of release are set. From there the case moves to a pretrial conference, then to discovery, motions, and — if it does not resolve — trial. Some matters begin earlier, at a clerk-magistrate hearing, where a criminal complaint can sometimes be prevented from ever issuing. That hearing is one of the most valuable moments in the whole process, and it is easy to miss its importance if you go in alone.

Attorney Reinhardt has spent more than 30 years in Massachusetts criminal courts, including years as a Committee for Public Counsel Services attorney. He handles the appearance, deals with the prosecutor, and tells you plainly what your options are — before you have to decide anything.