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Clerk Magistrate Hearings - Massachusetts

Massachusetts Magistrate Hearing Lawyer Massachusetts Clerk Magistrate and Show-Cause Hearings

In Massachusetts, police cannot arrest you for a misdemeanor offense unless it allegedly occurred in their presence (except for domestic assault and battery). That said, if they wish to pursue such a charge, you are entitled to a Clerk Magistrate's Hearing before a formal complaint can issue.

What is a Clerk Magistrate's Hearing?

A clerk magistrate's hearing, also known as a “show-cause” hearing, provides the person accused of a crime with the opportunity to avoid formal criminal charges. If either a police officer or a civilian files an application for a criminal complaint against you, you may receive notice to appear at a clerk’s hearing. This process allows the clerk to amend minor criminal offenses down to civil infractions, or dismiss the applications that show no “probable cause” of a criminal offense. At the hearing, the government or civilian presents the clerk magistrate with evidence that you committed the crime as alleged in the application. A clerk will generally allow your attorney to question any witnesses and examine any evidence against you. Because the application is almost always filed by a police officer or a civilian, and there is no assistant district attorney present during this phase of the investigation, having a skilled defense attorney puts you at a significant advantage. I have a strong record of success in defending my clients at these hearings and squashing potential criminal cases before they even begin.

If you have received notice of a clerk magistrate's hearing in Massachusetts, contact my office for your free initial phone consultation:

Urbelis Law, LLC

50 Milk St 16th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 830-2188

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Ben Urbelis recently represented me in an OUI case in which I had crashed my car. I honestly did not believe I had any chance of beating it, but fortunately for me Ben was outstanding and all charges were dropped. In my first hearing he was calm, assertive and straight to the point. I was extremely impressed and satisfied. I left my hearing feeling confident that I had made the right choice of hiring him. I am positive I would have lost this case and walked away with an OUI if I hadn't. I am very happy with how he handled my case and how reassured I felt having him as my lawyer." MC
★★★★★
"When I found myself charged with my 3rd DUI I was certain without a doubt that I was facing 6 months to 2 1/2 years in state prison. I can’t believe you were able to guide me calmly through the whole nerve wracking process, never sugar coating anything, staying honest and always keeping me informed the whole time. I still can’t believe that in the end you pulled off a miracle to avoidany jail time. I would recommend you to anyone in the same situation. Thank you so much. You saved me.” JL
★★★★★
"I want to personally thank Ben and his wonderful a staff at Urbelis Law for what an outstanding job they did for my son and his friends! Ben went above and beyond for them, with a successful outcome. I would highly recommend Ben to anyone that would need his services, he was wonderful!" Gina
★★★★★
"Huge thank you to not only my friend, but my lawyer,Ben Urbelis..I presented him with a case that at first was a bit tricky on paper... but we worked hard together and got all information we needed to prove i was innocent! He knew from the get go a year ago that he was gonna smash this case, and he did!! Cant thank you enough man! If anyone needs a lawyer, hes your guy... no question" PB
★★★★★
"Thank you for your excellent representation in this matter. Coming from out of town, it wasreassuringto have an attorney who was so well organized and on top of the process. It was very clear that the judge was not only familiar with you, but had a great deal of respect for you in the courtroom. I appreciate all the effort you put into my case, and thank you again for a successful representation!" RC