Press Release: 7/28/2025

Boston Bar Association Calls on Legislature, Governor, and Bar Advocate Reps to Resolve Underinvestment in Indigent Defense

 

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Ron Simms, Jr.

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• rsimms@bostonbar.org

Media Contact:

Ronald Simms Jr., Director of Communications

(202) 270-0936 or rsimms@bostonbar.org

BOSTON, MA – As the ongoing crisis created by a work stoppage by bar advocates drags on with no clear resolution in sight, Boston Bar Association President Matt McTygue offered the following response:

“Fundamental to both our democracy and our legal system is the principle that every individual charged with a crime deserves legal representation. In the Commonwealth, it is CPCS and the bar advocates they work with who make good on that promise. The ongoing, statewide work stoppage by bar advocates—now stretching since May with no resolution in sight—has pushed our justice system to the brink. What began as a crisis of compensation has escalated into a full-blown emergency, one that threatens the safety of our communities and the public’s faith in the justice system.

The Boston Bar Association has long advocated for significant increases to the statutory compensation rates paid to bar advocates—defense attorneys whose work is essential to upholding constitutional rights. Yet today, the absence of defense attorneys to provide representation in criminal cases throughout the Commonwealth–as required by the Constitution–is unsustainable. Victims are left waiting. Cases are stalled. Communities are put at risk. Justice is denied.

We call on the Legislature, the Governor, and bar advocate representatives to act immediately and collaboratively. A swift and fair resolution is essential—not only to get the wheels of justice moving again, but to finally address the chronic underinvestment in indigent defense that brought us to this moment. This cannot wait. The integrity of our justice system demands it.”

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The Boston Bar Association is the Commonwealth’s premier legal institution, bringing together the brightest and most influential people to lead at the forefront of the profession. Our mission is to advance the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession, facilitate access to justice, foster a diverse and inclusive professional community, and serve the community at large.