The Trial Court underscores its commitment to cooperating with the prosecutors and defense counsel to ensure timely processing of cases involving the breach at the Hinton State Lab.  We have established designated sessions for the purpose of assigning counsel and addressing the immediate liberty interests of the incarcerated defendants serving time in connection with a drug conviction stemming from a questionable drug analysis.

        In each county the departmental Chief Justices have designated the following judges to oversee that department’s cases and ensure expeditious processing.  Approximately three-quarters of these initial cases are in the Superior Court and the remaining cases are split between the Boston Municipal Court and the District Court.  The information available indicates that there are no juveniles presently committed to DYS on a drug offense.

        Meetings continue with the District Attorneys and defense bar in each county to establish court dates for these cases in the next several weeks.  The dates will vary county to county.  The Trial Court is ready and available to handle cases immediately.  Suffolk Superior Court has scheduled cases for the weeks of October 15th and 22nd.  Court locations have been determined based on proximity to their county House of Correction to facilitate processing.  Videoconferencing will be used wherever possible.