We have successfully represented clients in the Quincy district court dozens of times. It is our “home court” since is it the closest courthouse to our Braintree, MA law offices. Criminal and civil matters originating from the towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Holbrook, Milton, Randolph, Quincy, and Weymouth are heard in this courthouse.
Our firm has represented hundreds of clients in Quincy, on charges including OUI, leaving the scene of an accident, and a wide variety of felony and misdemeanor offenses. Attorney Matson was a court appointed lawyer in Quincy early in his legal career.
Where is Quincy District Court located?
1 Dennis Ryan Pkwy
Quincy, MA 02169
Main # (617) 471-1650
It is just outside of Quincy Center.
The mailing address for most matters or payments (made out to the Commonweath of Massachusetts) is:
Clerk-Magistrate’s Office
Quincy District Court
P.O. Box 690458
Quincy, MA 02269-0458
What time should I arrive?
Plan on arriving ½ an hour before your scheduled start time (doors open at 8:30AM) and we will do the same. Quincy is one of the busiest in the State and there is often a line to get through security, particularly in the morning or after lunch, so give yourself plenty of time.
Attorney Russell Matson being interviewed outside Quincy District Court
Can I bring my phone inside the courthouse?
Yes, the Quincy court allows you to bring your phone. However you can’t make calls from inside a courtroom, and you can’t take pictures or recordings.
Where can I park?
There is a paid parking lot directly across the street from the courthouse. If you get there early enough, there is limited free parking directly adjacent to the courthouse. Don’t park in the reserved spots or they will tow you.
What if I don’t have a car?
The Quincy District Court is accessible by the Red Line Quincy Center Station. The courthouse is about a ½ mile walk from the station.
Most people can walk this in under 10 minutes. This is handy if you happen to be called to court for an offense for which your license has been suspended, such as an OUI or a negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
You can also access the courthouse by the Greenbush Line and the Kingston / Plymouth and Middleborough / Lakeville line which both stop at the Quincy Center Station. The courthouse is also accessible by the following bus routes of the MBTA: Bus 210, Bus 211, Bus 212, Bus 214, Bus 215, Bus 216, Bus 217, Bus 220, Bus 221, Bus 222, Bus 225, Bus 230, Bus 236, Bus 238 and Bus 245.
Where should I meet my attorney?
If you are meeting one of our attorneys for the first time, we usually will arrange to meet just beyond the security station, near the elevator and nearby bench. If we haven’t met in person yet, and you don’t recognize us from our profile photo, we will call your name. Otherwise, we will usually meet you just outside of the courtroom in which the case is being heard.
Arraignment at Quincy District Court
What should I do when I get there?
If you’re there for an arraignment (the first time you’re in court on a charge that has already issued), check in with the probation department, which is on the right just after you come into the building. This is required and they will not ask you anything about the facts of your case (so you can do this without your attorney). They will ask you for your license and take basic contact and background information.
If you have private counsel, let them know and they won’t take any financial information, If you’re looking for a public defender, Probation will evaluate your eligibility based upon the financial information you give.
Where is the Arraignment Session?
Once you are checked in with Probation, you can go to the Arraignment Session. Adult arraignments take place in the First Session courtroom, which is located directly across the hall from probation. The Juvenile Session is on the 2nd Floor, to the right off the elevator or stairs (the middle door).
The arraignment room can be quite crowded at this busy courthouse. Arraignment sessions are fast moving, and open to the public and press. Occasionally, if there has been a case that made the news, there can be TV reporters here.
Clerk Magistrate’s Hearing at Quincy District Court
You should check in with the Clerk’s office, which is located on the 1st floor, to the left after the security station (again, you can do this without your attorney, as you’re just letting them know that you arrived and confirming the courtroom).
If possible, have your Notice with you in case the clerk wants the docket number. They will likely send you to the Fourth Session on the 2nd floor, to the right off the elevator or stairs (courtroom all the way to the right).
Quincy is one of only a handful of District Courts that allows non-hearing participants into the Clerk Magistrate’s hearing sessions. Most other courts only allow lawyers, defendants, witnesses and staff for privacy reasons.
Most courts have made the decision that since you haven’t been charged with a crime, there is no public interest in allowing your name to come out. However the Quincy Court is one fo the few exceptions to that standard.
That doesn’t mean your name will be publicized. It probably won’t, since reporters don’t generally have any interest in show cause hearings over very minor charges that are heard by Clerk Magistrates.
Pretrial Conference or Trial at Quincy District Court
Pre-Trial Conferences in Quincy are generally held in the Second Session courtroom, which is located on the 2nd floor, to the right off the elevator or stairs, adjacent to the District Attorney’s Office.
Trials are usually held in Jury Room A or Jury Room B, on the 2nd floor, to the left off the elevator or stairs. However, this varies and we will let you know which courtroom to go to.
Is there anywhere good to eat near the court?
Within walking distance, The Fours is across the main parking lot towards the right. It gets busy, but is quick (it is also frequented by court personnel and ADAs, so be careful what you say!).
For other options, go down the alley just after The Fours and it will take you to Hancock Street, where there are a variety of lunch spots.
History
Quincy was split off from Braintree in 1792. It was named after Colonel John Quincy, the grandfather of Abigail Adams.
Quincy is famously known as the birthplace and residence of John Adams and John Quincy Adams two presidents. However, technically they were both born in Braintree since that is what is was called at the time.
So if not for that guy, it would probably be the Braintree District Court.
