The Great Mass. Lawyer Strike: When Public Defenders Finally Said "Fuck This"
The Great Massachusetts Lawyer Strike: When Public Defenders Finally Said “Fuck This”
Or: How Decades of Underpaying Defense Attorneys Led to a Criminal Justice Meltdown
What in the actual hell is happening in Massachusetts? The state’s public defense system has completely collapsed, criminal defendants are being released without attorneys, and at least one guy was literally skipping out of court in ankle shackles with a grin on his face because nobody could afford to prosecute him properly.
Welcome to what happens when you spend decades treating public defenders like Walmart greeters and then act surprised when they finally stop showing up for work.
Since Memorial Day, about 80% of Massachusetts criminal defense attorneys have gone on strike over pathetic pay rates that haven't kept pace with inflation since the Carter administration. Now over 1,200 people are sitting in legal limbo without representation, courts are triggering emergency protocols that sound like they came from a disaster movie, and the entire criminal justice system is held together with duct tape and prayer.
The best part? One defense attorney warned that “potentially dangerous criminals are going to get released”, while the public defender’s office basically shrugged and said “they're presumed innocent anyway”. It’s like watching two groups of people argue about whether the Titanic is sinking while water fills the ballroom.
Already subscribed? Tap the ♥️ above if you’re enjoying this issue.
Not yet a member? Join here for free to unlock likes, briefs, and unredacted legal satire.
Want the full VIP experience? Upgrade below to laugh your legal ass off behind the velvet rope.