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Additional Court Locations to Adjust Public Office Hours
Dedham and Quincy District Courts restrict access to reduce backlogs;
Lynn, Stoughton and Westborough District Courts modify restricted schedules
Two additional courts will adjust the hours of their clerks' offices beginning January 30, 2012, in order to reduce processing delays. Adjusted hours became effective on a temporary basis in 35 courts in September to facilitate case processing.
The District Courts in Dedham and Quincy now will modify their hours daily to address case backlogs and staff shortages. Public access to the clerk's office will be limited in Dedham between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m.. The Quincy District Court has clarified recently-introduced changes to court office hours. The court will be open for all business including petitions filed under G.L. c. 123 § 35. After 2:00 p.m. private applications for criminal complaints and requests for copies of court files will be deferred until the following business day.
The scheduling of court sessions is not affected by the changes in office hours and access is available for emergency matters. This reduction in counter and telephone hours provides uninterrupted time for staff to prepare cases for court sessions and execute court orders, as well as to complete filing, docketing, scanning and other case processing.
Current staffing levels, caseloads and public concerns about extended backlogs compelled the decision to adjust office hours. The Trial Court has lost 1,270 people, a 16 percent reduction in staff since 2007, causing delays in many courts.
Departmental chief justices have worked with strained local courts to develop plans that would minimize public inconvenience and avoid adverse impact on court users. Departments already have deployed a range of strategies to implement technology and share staff across courts, utilize administrative office staff and interns, and centralize some functions. The departments are monitoring the impact of the restricted hours to ensure its effectiveness in improving operations.
The decision to reduce hours at some locations means that during the specified hours staff will be unavailable to answer general telephone inquiries or to assist the public in the clerk’s office. Telephone messages and signage at each location will provide information about the adjusted hours and emergency access information. The judicial response system which provides round-the-clock coverage for emergency situations will be unaffected.
An updated list of courts with modified public office hours is detailed on the following page.
Temporary Changes in Court Office Hours as of January 30, 2012
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| District Court |
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• Attleboro, Barnstable, E. Brookfield, Fall River (telephones only), Haverhill , Malden, Palmer, Salem, Stoughton, Taunton, Waltham, Westborough, Woburn, and Wrentham-civil open Thursday
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday |
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• Concord |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday |
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• Dedham |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
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• Framingham/Natick |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
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• Lawrence, Newburyport/Ipswich (telephones only), Somerville, Springfield, Uxbridge, |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday & Friday
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• Lynn |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday
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• Lowell |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday
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• Marlborough |
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• Counter and phone coverage restricted 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday |
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• Quincy |
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• Daily after 2 p.m. private applications for criminal complaints and requests for copies of court files will be deferred until the following business day. |
Court sessions still will begin at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Restricted access applies to any business except:
Persons seeking emergency restraining orders, harassment prevention orders, mental health emergencies, warrants
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| Housing Court |
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• Western Division
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 12 Noon to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Scheduled matters will continue to be heard throughout the day.
• Satellite sessions cancelled the first week of each month in Northampton, Pittsfield and Greenfield. Emergency matters during this week will be handled in Springfield. These satellite sessions will continue the other weeks of the month.
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| Juvenile Court |
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• Springfield Session of the Hampden County Division
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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| Land Court |
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| • Counter and phone coverage restricted 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday
Court sessions will be held as scheduled throughout the day.
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| Probate and Family Court |
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• Following Counties: Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Essex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Plymouth |
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| • Registry Counter and phone coverage restricted after 3 p.m. Monday through Friday
Applies to any court business, except emergency restraining orders and other emergencies.
Court sessions still will begin at 8:30 a.m. |
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