On Oct. 15, the Senate voted to override the veto of Gov.
Charlie Baker on the outside section of the state budget relative
to compensation for some private bar advocates. The measure, which
will raise compensation rates from $50 to $53 per hour in the
District and Juvenile Courts and from $50 to $55 for Children and
Family Law Cases, was already approved by the House of
Representatives. These rates are effective July 1, 2016.
The Massachusetts Bar Association, along with the Committee for
Public Counsel Services, worked with House and Senate leaders
throughout the legislative process to take this important first
step to attain compensation increases for criminal justice
attorneys and will continue to work together to increase rates for
all assigned private counsels. Rep. Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham)
filed this measure as an amendment to the House budget and was
instrumental in its passage.