Stoughton District Court

The Stoughton District Court sits at 1288 Central Street, Stoughton, MA 02072, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Clerk’s office: (781) 344-2131
• Probation department: (781) 344-4810
• Clerk’s fax: (781) 341-8744
• Probation fax: (781) 341-9052
• Clerk’s email: cmstoughtondc@jud.state.ma.us

Free parking is available at the courthouse. Stoughton station on the MBTA Providence and Stoughton commuter rail line is about a mile away, and Brockton Area Transit Route 14 stops nearby. The courthouse sits near the Route 24 and Route 27 interchange.

The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal cases in the Stoughton District Court. The court hears OUI and motor vehicle cases from Route 24, Route 138, and Route 27, domestic violence cases, 209A restraining order hearings, retail theft cases, and drug cases. Many Stoughton defendants are commuters, licensed professionals, tradespeople, parents, or students home from school who have never been charged with a crime.

A first criminal record can lead to the loss of a job, a professional license, or a place in school. Attorney Joe Serpa has practiced Massachusetts criminal defense since 1995. He has represented clients in the Stoughton District Court and in other Norfolk County courts.

The firm’s page on how criminal cases get dismissed in Massachusetts covers each stage of a case, from the clerk-magistrate hearing through trial.

Communities Served. Stoughton, Avon, Canton, and Sharon.

OUI and Motor Vehicle Cases. Many cases in the Stoughton District Court begin with a traffic stop on Route 24 or Route 138 and involve charges of OUI, negligent operation, or operating after suspension. A commuter or a commercial driver often needs a driver’s license to work.

Attorney Serpa reviews how the case could affect the client’s license from the first call. 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).

Domestic Violence, Theft, and Drug Cases. The Stoughton District Court hears domestic violence cases and holds 209A restraining order hearings. Attorney Serpa defends a criminal charge and a related restraining order together. The court also hears retail theft cases from stores in the area and drug cases. In drug cases, Attorney Serpa files a motion to suppress when the police obtained the evidence unlawfully.

The Clerk-Magistrate Hearing. Many Stoughton cases begin with a summons to a show cause session before a clerk-magistrate. 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, such as the client’s driving history, proof of a reinstated license, proof that the client paid a store’s civil demand, and information about how a criminal complaint would affect the client’s job. He 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 Stoughton case for trial. The firm’s Massachusetts Criminal Defense Results page describes past outcomes. Call 617.936.0201 for a confidential consultation before your Stoughton date.

Related Serpa Law Office Resources: Clerk-Magistrate Hearings • Criminal Traffic Citation • OUI Defense • Operating After Suspension • Criminal Records and CORI • Courts Across Greater Boston