Ayer District Court

The Ayer District Court sits at 25 East Main Street, Ayer, MA 01432, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Clerk’s office and probation department: (978) 772-2100
• Clerk’s fax: (978) 772-5345
• Probation fax: (978) 772-9021
• Clerk’s email: cmayerdc@jud.state.ma.us

Two small lots at the courthouse are open to the public, and additional parking is available down the street at Pirone Park. The courthouse is reachable on the MBTA Fitchburg and South Acton commuter rail line and sits near Route 2 and Route 2A.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal cases in the Ayer District Court. The court hears cases from northwest Middlesex County, from Route 2 to the New Hampshire line, including the communities around the former Fort Devens. Most of the court’s OUI, drug, motor vehicle, and domestic violence cases are first offenses against people who have never been charged with a crime. Attorney Joe Serpa has practiced Massachusetts criminal defense since 1995. He tries to end each Ayer case before it results in a permanent criminal record.

The firm’s page on how criminal cases get dismissed in the Massachusetts district and municipal courts explains when the prosecutor or a judge can dismiss a case.

Communities Served. Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, Westford, and the Devens Regional Enterprise Zone.

OUI and the Route 2 Corridor. Many OUI cases in the Ayer District Court begin with a traffic stop on Route 2. In each OUI case, Attorney Serpa examines the legality of the stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breath test records.

A driver who receives a citation for a misdemeanor motor vehicle offense, with no felony charge and no arrest, has four days from the date of the violation to ask the clerk-magistrate in writing for a hearing before a criminal complaint issues. G.L. c. 90C, § 3(B)(2).

Drug and Search Litigation. Many drug cases in the Ayer District Court begin with a car stop or a search. Attorney Serpa files a motion to suppress under Article 14 when the police violated the defendant’s rights during the stop or the search. The Commonwealth often cannot proceed with the case after the judge suppresses the evidence.

Domestic Violence and the 209A Restraining Order Calendar. The Ayer District Court hears domestic violence cases and holds 209A restraining order hearings. Attorney Serpa defends a criminal charge and a related restraining order together. For a client who was not the aggressor, he raises self-defense and presents the complainant’s history of violence.

The Clerk-Magistrate Session. Many Ayer cases begin with a summons to a show cause hearing under G.L. c. 218, § 35A. No complaint issues, no arraignment takes place, and no CORI entry results when the clerk-magistrate denies the application. Attorney Serpa prepares documents for each hearing and challenges probable cause when the police report does not support every element of the offense.

Prepared for Trial From Day One. Attorney Serpa prepares every Ayer case for trial. The firm’s Massachusetts Criminal Defense Results page describes past outcomes. Call 617.936.0201 for a free and confidential consultation before your Ayer date.

Related Serpa Law Office Resources: Clerk-Magistrate Hearings • OUI Defense • Drug Crimes Defense • Illegal Searches and Seizures • Domestic Violence Defense • Courts Across Greater Boston