Public Defender Strike Leads to Calls for Dismissal of Juvenile Charges in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Public Defender's Office has filed a plea with the Supreme Judicial Court, urging the dismissal of charges against over 100 juvenile defendants due to a severe shortage of legal counsel. The ongoing strike by public defenders has significantly worsened the staffing crisis, resulting in many minors facing criminal proceedings without adequate legal support for an extended period, in some cases exceeding six weeks.