The Somerville District Court, or the District Court of Somerville as it is formally known, hears cases on criminal charges and other matters originating in the jurisdiction of the cities of Medford and Somerville. Anyone arreseted by Medford or Somerville police will have their case heard hear, in addition to any arrests or citations by the Massachusetts State Police withing these towns. The stretch of I-93 just north of Boston is actively patrolled by the state police.
Somerville District Court
It is not to be confused with the Cambridge District Court, which is actually located in Medford, which is not confusing at all.
Where is the Somerville district court located?
The courthouse is located at 175 Fellsway Somerville, MA 02145
Can I park there?
Yes, there is a parking lot behind the courthouse, and on-street parking on Middlesex Ave. The actual entrance to the courthouse is in the rear where the parking lot is located.
How Can I get to the Somerville District Court by public transportation?
The two MBTA bus lines that run nearby are the 90 and 92 buses. The number 90 that runs between Davis Square and Wellington Station stops on Grand Union Blvd at the Assembly Square Mall. The number 92 runs Assembly Square (Grand Union and Artisan Way) and into Boston at Haymarket.
If you want to take the subway, it is about a half mile walk from the Assembly T stop on the Orange line.
Can I bring my phone in the building?
No, cell phones and electronic devices are restricted within the courthouse.
Where do I go for a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing at the Somerville District Court?
Check in at the Clerk’s office to find out in which courtroom the Clerk Magistrate’s hearings are being held that day.
You are not required to have a lawyer at a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing, and you aren’t entitled to have one if you don’t hire someone. The Constitutional “right to counsel” doesn’t exist if you haven’t been formally charged with a crime, which is true for Clerk Magistrate’s hearings, or “show cause” hearings. The hearing will determine if there is probable cause, and if the Magistrate finds that sufficient cause exist, she or he will issue a criminal complaint, and you will be formally arraigned at a later date and charged with a crime.
However, a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing is often your best opportunity to avoid a criminal charge from happening, and hiring an experienced lawyer will absolutely tip the odds in your favor. Having the charge never issued, in exchange for concessions, or for any reason means your record stays clean on a CORI check. And a clean CORI can be extremely important for future opportunities.
Where do I go for an Arraignment at the Somerville District Court?
If you are scheduled to be arraigned on a criminal charge in Somerville, arrive early to check in with the probation department before waiting in the courtroom. The probation department checks in arraignments, and also will complete an evaluation questionnaire to determine if you are eligible for a court appointed defense attorney. If you know you don’t financially qualify as indigent, or have hired your own attorney already, you can skip that part.
The probation department will direct you to the main courtroom where arraignments are heard. When your name is called, you can stand up as directed. A court officer will read the charges into the record, and you will plead “not guilty”.
At this point, you will be given another court date for a pretrial conference, where
When they had you the paperwork for your next court date, ask for a copy of the police report, which is very important for getting good advice from an attorney on your options, and as a discussion point for hiring an attorney to represent you.
Is there anyplace to eat near the courthouse?
Yes, lots of places. Just across the parking lot past the Staples is Burger Dive. To the south, down middlesex save is the 99 and the sunrise cuisine for Caribbean food, and the style cafe.
Across the road at by the Assembly Row outlet mall are a wide variety of spots, including Papagayo for Mexican, Legal for Seafood, Earl’s Kitchen, and Ernesto’s Pizza if you just want a slice, as well as many other options.