Salem district court in Salem, MA serves the north shore seaside communities of Beverly, Danvers, Manchester by the Sea, Middleton, and Salem.
The stretch of route 128 east of 95 where the roads diverge is largely under this district’s jurisdiction for Mass State police related incidents on that road.
The courthouse itself is a very new, modern building as part of the Ruane Judicial Center. The site was dedicated in 2012. J. Michael Ruane was a long time State Representative in Salem.
Where is Salem District Court located?
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Parking?
Though the Salem streets are busy and crowded near the courthouse, there are lots of different parking options if you plan ahead.
There is a downtown garage if you know you may be at the court for a while, and don’t want to overrun your meter and face a $25 ticket. The cheapest possible option is the Waterfront garage, which is .25 an hour! and a 10 minute walk away.The city of Salem is kind enough to lay out your options near the courthouse on their parking website.
Can I Get to the Salem District Court by Public Transportation?
Yes, there are a few ways to get to the courthouse via public transportation. The courthouse is a very short walk from the Salem train station on the Newburyport/Rockport line of the Commuter rail.
You can also get here via several Salem bus routes on the T, including Bus 450, 451, 455, 456, 459, and 465.
Can I bring My Cellphone in the Courthouse?
No, there are signs all around the building explicitly forbidding bringing your mobile phone or electronic device into the courthouse building. You will need to not bring one, or leave it in your car.
Clerk’s Hearings?
Do you have a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing scheduled in the Salem District court? Clerk’s hearings are held in different courtrooms in the building.
The Clerk’s office will have the details.
Arraignments?
If you are scheduled for an arraignment at the Salem District Court, get there in plenty of time to be in the arraignment courtroom by 9am. You will need time to get through building security, which can have a line on busy days.
You will also need to go to the Probation department to check in. They will make a note of your presence and direct you to the appropriate courtroom for that day’s arraignment session. They are also required to ask you if you wish to go through a financial questionnaire to be evaluated for a court-appointed lawyer eligibility.
If you don’t qualify or are planning to hire a private defense attorney, you can waive this.
When called up in the arraignment, you will stand up as the charges against you are read, and enter a plea of not guilty. This is standard, particularly if you don’t have an attorney.
If you have hired us, and we are trying to work out a pretrial probation, we will step in and advise you, and take care of this for you to preserve all options to resolve the case without a charge.
But if you are alone at your arraignment, that’s ok. Get your pretrial date as assigned by the court, and call us ASAP for the next steps.
Are there any Restaurants near the Salem Courthouse?
Yes, downtown Salem has many excellent dining options. There are a wide variety of choices within a short walk, including seafood, pizza, Thai, sandwiches, and vegetarian.
