The Committee is a 15-member body appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. It oversees the provision of legal representation to indigent persons in criminal and civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel.

We provide legal representation in Massachusetts for those unable to afford an attorney in all matters in which the law requires the appointment of counsel. This includes representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction matters.

Representation is provided by a combination of approximately 500 staff attorneys and 3,000 private attorneys trained and certified to accept appointments. Support for and supervision of these attorneys is provided by the Private Counsel and Public Defender Divisions (for criminal cases and related matters), the Children and Family Law Division (for child welfare cases), the Youth Advocacy Division (for delinquency, youthful offender, and GCL revocation cases), and the Mental Health Litigation Division (for guardianships and mental health/substance abuse commitments). Additionally, the Immigration Impact Unit provides attorneys within all divisions with training, litigation support and advice in individual cases regarding immigration consequences for noncitizens clients.

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Committee for Public Counsel Services

Anthony J. Benedetti

Laura Sanford

Denise Regan

Connor Hanlon

Christine Perkins

Christina Scotti

Catherine McNamara

Andrew Don

Jon Bartelson

Kevin Lucchetti

Sandra Debow-Huang

Rose King

Joseph Mulhern

Dulcineia Goncalves

The Legal Support and Advocacy team at the Committee for Public Counsel Services provides essential support to attorneys representing indigent clients in various legal matters. This team, consisting of trial attorneys, social service advocates, and legal experts, focuses on addressing the unique needs of clients, including social services integration and specialized legal guidance. By collaborating across divisions, they ensure comprehensive advocacy and holistic support for individuals facing criminal, civil, and family law challenges.

Legal Support and Advocacy

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