Boston Criminal Defense Lawyer | OUI, Domestic Violence, Clerk Hearings | Serpa Law Office

Criminal Defense Across Eastern Massachusetts — Courts We Serve

Serpa Law Office represents clients in Massachusetts District Courts and the Boston Municipal Court across Eastern and Central Massachusetts. Attorney Serpa has practiced in each of these courthouses for decades — knowing the judges, clerk-magistrates, and prosecutors in each building. The approach is the same in every court: identify the best available outcome at the earliest possible stage, and prepare every case for trial from day one.

Suffolk County — Boston Municipal Court

The Boston Municipal Court (BMC) operates across eight divisions covering every Boston neighborhood — Central (Downtown/Financial District/Seaport), Brighton (Allston/BU area), Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston (Logan Airport), Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury (Jamaica Plain/Hyde Park/Roslindale). The Suffolk County DA’s Office prosecutes all BMC cases with a zero-tolerance policy on domestic violence, OUI, and firearms offenses. The BMC handles the highest concentration of student and licensed professional cases in the system — Harvard Square fake ID arrests, Financial District larceny charges, Logan Airport firearms cases for out-of-state travelers, and Longwood Medical Area cases for physicians and researchers.

Norfolk County

Quincy District Court (1 Dennis Ryan Pkwy) — exercises jurisdiction over Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph, Milton, Cohasset, and Holbrook. Routes 3, 128, and I-93 generate one of the highest OUI charge volumes in the county. Our Quincy office is five minutes from the courthouse. Brookline District Court (360 Washington St) — exclusive Brookline jurisdiction. BU, BC, and Northeastern students and Longwood Medical Area physicians are a significant portion of the docket. Dedham District Court (631 High St) — serves Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Needham, Norwood, Wellesley, and Westwood. High concentration of Route 1, Route 109, and I-95 OUI and motor vehicle charges, and licensed professional cases from Wellesley and Needham.

Middlesex County

Cambridge District Court (4040 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford) — Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont. The highest concentration of Harvard, MIT, and Lesley University student cases and Kendall Square professional cases in the system. Somerville District Court (175 Fellsway) — Somerville and Medford. Tufts University students and Assembly Row larceny cases. Malden District Court (4040 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford, shared with Cambridge) — Malden, Everett, Melrose, and Wakefield. Encore Boston Harbor drug charges and casino-area larceny cases. Waltham District Court (38 Linden St) — Waltham, Watertown, and Weston. Route 128 OUI corridor, Brandeis and Bentley students. Woburn District Court (30 Pleasant St) — Woburn, Burlington, Winchester, Wilmington, Stoneham, Reading, and North Reading. I-93/Route 128 interchange OUI enforcement, Burlington Mall shoplifting cases. Newton District Court (1309 Washington St, West Newton) — Newton only. Turnpike and Route 9 OUI charges, BC students, Newton medical professionals. Concord District Court (305 Walden St) — Concord, Lexington, Carlisle, Lincoln, Bedford, Acton, Maynard, and Stow. Route 2 and I-95 OUI corridor, Hanscom AFB security clearance cases. Framingham District Court (600 Concord St) — Framingham, Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Sudbury, and Wayland. Turnpike and Route 9 OUI enforcement, MetroWest corporate professionals.

Plymouth County

Hingham District Court (28 George Washington Blvd) — Hingham, Norwell, Scituate, Hanover, Hull, and Rockland. Route 3 OUI enforcement and South Shore professional defense. Attorney Serpa also represents clients in Brockton District Court, Plymouth District Court, and Wareham District Court across the Plymouth County system.

Essex, Bristol, and Worcester Counties

Attorney Serpa represents clients throughout Essex County — including Salem, Lynn, Lawrence, Peabody, and Newburyport District Courts — Bristol County (Taunton, Fall River, Attleboro, New Bedford) and Worcester County (Worcester, Fitchburg, Leominster, Milford, and Westborough District Courts). For out-of-state visitors and travelers facing charges on Massachusetts highways — I-90, I-93, I-95, Route 3 — Attorney Serpa appears in the court with territorial jurisdiction over the stretch of road where the stop occurred and can handle routine appearances without requiring clients to return to Massachusetts for each date. See: Massachusetts Trial Court Overview.

What Happens in Every Court

Regardless of the courthouse, the defense sequence is consistent. For most misdemeanor charges where police did not make a warrantless arrest, the first priority is a clerk-magistrate hearing — a private, pre-arraignment proceeding under M.G.L. c. 218, § 35A that can prevent any CORI entry from being created. When a case proceeds past the clerk-magistrate stage, Motions to Suppress challenge the constitutionality of the stop and search. When suppression is denied, the case is prepared for trial — because every case is prepared for trial from day one regardless of the evidence. For OUI cases specifically, the defense examines the constitutionality of the stop, the field sobriety test administration, and the calibration records of the specific Draeger Alcotest 9510 breathalyzer used in the arrest. For domestic violence charges — including cases for licensed professionals — the defense coordinates the criminal case with any parallel licensing board, university, or immigration proceeding from the first day of representation.

For a complete guide to every Massachusetts court see: Massachusetts District Courts and Boston Municipal Court — Criminal Defense.

Criminal Defense and OUI Expertise

Attorney Serpa’s outstanding criminal jury trial record has made him a trusted and respected criminal defense attorney in Massachusetts courts hearing both felony and misdemeanor cases. When you retain Attorney Joe Serpa, Attorney Serpa is your attorney — from the first consultation through verdict or resolution. No associates, no handoffs.

Clerk-Magistrate Hearings (M.G.L. c. 218, § 35A)

A clerk-magistrate hearing (Show Cause hearing) is a private, pre-arraignment proceeding at which a formal criminal complaint can be stopped before it issues. If denied, no complaint issues, no arraignment occurs, and no CORI entry is created. The matter is permanently and privately closed. This is the most consequential proceeding in Massachusetts criminal law, and Serpa Law Office has obtained hundreds of denials at this stage across Greater Boston courts. See: A Practitioner’s Guide to Massachusetts Clerk-Magistrate Hearings and the Complete Clerk-Magistrate Hearing FAQ.

OUI / DUI / Drunk Driving (M.G.L. c. 90, § 24)

Massachusetts District Attorneys use strict enforcement of OUI laws under M.G.L. c. 90, § 24 — a .08 BAC threshold for adults and .02 for drivers under 21. Attorney Serpa has defended OUI cases for thirty years and maintains a perfect record of Not Guilty verdicts in OUI jury trials. Defense begins with the constitutionality of the traffic stop, moves through the administration of standardized field sobriety tests, and culminates in a forensic challenge to breathalyzer evidence from the Draeger Alcotest 9510. The Commonwealth v. Ananias litigation established that over 27,000 Massachusetts breath tests were excludable — calibration records for the specific machine used in every arrest must be reviewed. See: Why a Failed Breathalyzer Does Not Equal an OUI Conviction and Massachusetts OUI FAQs.

Domestic Violence (M.G.L. c. 265, § 13M)

Common domestic violence charges include assault and battery on a family or household member (M.G.L. c. 265, § 13M), violation of 209A restraining orders, and witness intimidation. Every Massachusetts DA’s Office maintains a strict no-drop policy — cases proceed based on police observations, 911 recordings, and medical records regardless of the complainant’s wishes. Attorney Serpa has secured not-guilty verdicts in domestic violence jury trials across Massachusetts and has obtained trial-date dismissals in cases where complainants invoke the marital privilege or are unavailable to testify. See: Massachusetts Domestic Violence FAQs and Defending 209A and 258E Violations.

Firearms Offenses (M.G.L. c. 269, § 10; Chapter 135, Acts of 2024)

Massachusetts firearms defense requires examining the constitutionality of the stop and search that produced the weapon. Carrying a firearm without a License to Carry (LTC) under M.G.L. c. 269, § 10(a) carries a mandatory minimum of 18 months. The 2026 Firearms Modernization Act (Chapter 135, Acts of 2024) added new felony exposure for unregistered and unserialized firearms — with an October 28, 2026 compliance deadline. See: Massachusetts Firearms Registration Deadline: October 28, 2026.

Motor Vehicle Crimes (M.G.L. c. 90C)

Drivers cited for criminal motor vehicle offenses — negligent operation, leaving the scene, operating after suspension — have four calendar days from the date of the violation to request a clerk-magistrate hearing under M.G.L. c. 90C, § 3(B)(2). Missing that deadline waives the right entirely. See: The Criminal Uniform Traffic Citation and the 4-Day Deadline.

Sealing and Expungement (M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100A–100E)

Sealing and expungement in Massachusetts offer individuals with past criminal records a path to a clean background check. Sealing under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A makes a CORI record inaccessible to most employers, landlords, and educational institutions — the DCJIS responds with “no record found.” Expungement under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100E permanently destroys the record. Misdemeanor convictions can be sealed after three years; felonies after seven years. Dismissed cases can be sealed immediately upon petition. See: Massachusetts CORI Sealing and Expungement FAQ.

Digital Evidence, Phone Searches, and AI-Generated Evidence

Massachusetts criminal defense now regularly involves digital evidence — phone searches, AI-generated images, deepfakes, and digital search warrants. Under Riley v. California (573 U.S. 373, 2014), police must obtain a warrant before searching your phone. Under the Fifth Amendment and Commonwealth v. Gelfgatt, you cannot be compelled to provide your phone passcode. The Commonwealth v. Ananias litigation on breathalyzer calibration records and the 2026 Massachusetts digital evidence update have created new defense opportunities across a wide range of charges. See: Digital Search Warrants in Massachusetts, Your Right to Refuse a Phone Passcode, and How Massachusetts Courts Authenticate Deepfakes and AI Evidence.

Drug Crimes (M.G.L. c. 94C)

Massachusetts prosecutes drug crimes under M.G.L. c. 94C across a spectrum from simple possession to trafficking with mandatory minimum sentences. Effective defense begins with the constitutionality of the police search that produced the evidence — drugs found in an unconstitutional search are suppressible and, when suppressed, leave the prosecution without a case. Attorney Serpa has secured suppression of drug evidence and dismissals across Massachusetts drug cases for thirty years.

Sex Crimes

Massachusetts seriously prosecutes rape, indecent assault and battery, sexual assault, possession of child pornography, and — since the 2024 Act to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation — AI-generated sexual imagery and deepfakes under M.G.L. c. 272, § 29D. Attorney Serpa maintains a perfect record of not-guilty verdicts in sexual assault jury trials across Massachusetts — including Plymouth County Superior Court, Middlesex Superior Court, Suffolk Superior Court, and Essex County Juvenile Court. The defense of sex offense charges examines DNA evidence, the credibility of the complainant’s account, and the specific requirements of proof beyond a reasonable doubt for each element of the charged offense.

Larceny and Theft Crimes (M.G.L. c. 266, § 30; M.G.L. c. 266, § 30A)

Massachusetts shoplifting and larceny defense strategies depend on the specific facts: challenging the elements of the offense, demonstrating the absence of criminal intent, establishing consent, or — for first-time defendants — securing a clerk-magistrate hearing denial that prevents any CORI entry from being created. For professionals whose careers are implicated by a crime of dishonesty, the clerk-magistrate hearing is the most critical intervention available.

Violent Crimes

Massachusetts courts prosecute violent offenses — assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, mayhem, manslaughter, and murder — with substantial resources and experienced prosecutors. Attorney Serpa has secured not-guilty verdicts in all of these categories in jury trials across Massachusetts Superior Courts, including a first-degree murder acquittal in Plymouth County Superior Court and a not-guilty verdict on aggravated rape charges in Middlesex Superior Court. See: Representative Trial Results.

Resources: What to Do Right Now

If you have been arrested or received a summons in Massachusetts:

• What to Do in the First 24 Hours After a Massachusetts Arrest
• Greater Boston & Massachusetts Criminal Case FAQs
• Massachusetts OUI/DUI FAQs
• Massachusetts Domestic Violence FAQs
• Massachusetts CORI Sealing and Expungement FAQ
• CWOF, Pretrial Probation, and Diversion FAQs
• Complete Clerk-Magistrate Hearing FAQ

Criminal Defense for Students and Licensed Professionals

For college and university students at Harvard, MIT, BU, BC, Northeastern, Tufts, Brandeis, Bentley, and Framingham State — facing fake ID charges, OUI, drug charges, sexual assault allegations, and Title IX proceedings — a criminal charge initiates a criminal case and a university disciplinary proceeding simultaneously. The clerk-magistrate hearing, which prevents the arraignment CORI entry that triggers the campus disciplinary process, is the most valuable intervention.

For licensed professionals — physicians, attorneys, nurses, engineers, and financial advisors — the arraignment CORI entry triggers mandatory licensing board reporting before the case is resolved. A CWOF is treated as a conviction by most Massachusetts licensing boards regardless of its Massachusetts classification. The defense of a licensed professional’s criminal case begins with preventing the arraignment, not accepting a CWOF after it.

For non-citizens and visa holders, a Massachusetts criminal charge can trigger immigration consequences before the case is resolved. See: Immigration Consequences of Massachusetts Criminal Charges.

Contact Serpa Law Office

Serpa Law Office represents clients in the Federal, Superior, Boston Municipal Courts, and Massachusetts District Courts across Eastern and Central Massachusetts.

Boston office: 20 Park Plaza #400A, Boston, MA 02116 — steps from the Green Line Arlington Street Station.

Quincy office: 500 Victory Rd., Suite 400A, Quincy, MA 02171 — ten minutes south of Boston by Red Line.

Call 617.936.0201 for a free consultation. Available 24 hours a day.

Representative Not Guilty Verdicts

The following are a representative sample of jury trial verdicts. Full results: Representative Dismissals and Trial Results.

Not Guilty — First-Degree Murder, Plymouth County Superior Court (Comm. v. MR)

Not Guilty — Domestic Assault and Battery, Intimidation of a Witness, Carrying a Firearm, Malicious Destruction of Property, Middlesex County Superior Court (Comm. v. MM)

Not Guilty — Aggravated Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (Attempted Murder), Suffolk Superior Court (Comm. v. JB)

Not Guilty — Aggravated Rape, Indecent Assault and Battery, Suffolk Superior Court (Comm. v. KB)

Not Guilty — Rape (Date Rape), Indecent Assault and Battery, Middlesex Superior Court (Comm. v. NA)

Not Guilty — Carrying a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute, Suffolk County Superior Court (Comm. v. WT)

Not Guilty — OUI Third Offense, Woburn District Court (Comm. v. NP)

Not Guilty — Assault and Battery / 209A Violation, Waltham District Court (Comm. v. DM)

Greater Boston Criminal Law Alerts

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After an Arrest in Massachusetts

Fighting an OUI in Massachusetts: How Cases Are Won at Trial

Why a Failed Breathalyzer Does Not Equal an OUI Conviction in Massachusetts

Your Fifth Amendment Right to Refuse a Passcode in Massachusetts

Digital Search Warrants in Massachusetts: What Police Must Prove

How Massachusetts Courts Authenticate Deepfakes and AI Evidence in 2026

Massachusetts Firearms Registration Deadline: October 28, 2026

Defending 209A and 258E Restraining Order Violations in Massachusetts

The Criminal Uniform Traffic Citation and the 4-Day Deadline

A Practitioner’s Guide to Massachusetts Clerk-Magistrate Hearings