Low pay causes Massachusetts lawyers to refuse cases

Massachusetts court-appointed lawyers began refusing new cases Tuesday, potentially triggering a "constitutional crisis" due to low pay and impacting the right to legal counsel. The striking lawyers, known as bar advocates, represent indigent defendants in criminal cases, handling about 80% of such cases. They argue their effective hourly rate, after expenses, is too low to sustain quality legal defense, leading to the work stoppage. The Committee for Public Counsel Services supports the advocates and is working with courts and district attorneys to mitigate disruptions. The advocates' pay rates are significantly lower than in other New England states, and past legislative efforts to increase pay have been unsuccessful.