Broockton Ma Legal Resources and Information FAQ

A Real Story: What Effective OUI Defense Can Accomplish

We want to tell you about a client — whose name we will not use — who called our office the morning after being arrested for OUI on a Saturday night. He was forty-two years old, had a clean record, worked in financial services, and was genuinely devastated. He had had two glasses of wine […]

A Real Story: What Effective OUI Defense Can Accomplish Read More »

The Consequences of an OUI Conviction in Massachusetts

The consequences vary significantly depending on prior history. First Offense OUI (Misdemeanor) A first offense OUI in Massachusetts is a misdemeanor. Typical consequences include: The “24D” program — now called the Massachusetts Impaired Driving (MID) program — allows first-time OUI defendants who complete a driver alcohol education program to receive a shorter license suspension period

The Consequences of an OUI Conviction in Massachusetts Read More »

Commonwealth v. Ananias: A Landmark Case Attorney Milligan Helped Win

The history of breathalyzer evidence in Massachusetts includes a landmark chapter that is worth understanding — and in which Attorney Milligan served as one of the lead counsel for the Defense. In Commonwealth v. Ananias, decided in 2017, a Massachusetts judge found that the Alcotest 9510 devices used in the Commonwealth had calibration and certification

Commonwealth v. Ananias: A Landmark Case Attorney Milligan Helped Win Read More »

The Traffic Stop: Where Many Defenses Begin

The stop itself is the foundation of every OUI case, and it is often the first place a defense attorney looks for vulnerabilities. In order for a traffic stop to be constitutional, the officer must have had a reasonable articulable suspicion that a traffic law was being violated or that criminal activity was occurring. This

The Traffic Stop: Where Many Defenses Begin Read More »

OUI Defense in Massachusetts: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Future After an Arrest

Of all the criminal charges we defend in Massachusetts, Operating Under the Influence charges — known as OUI, though you will also hear them called DUI or DWI in other states — are the ones we have worked with most extensively and studied most deeply. Attorney Milligan is board certified in OUI defense, which reflects

OUI Defense in Massachusetts: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Future After an Arrest Read More »

The Mistakes First-Time Offenders Make Most Often

We want to address this directly, because the most common mistakes are not complicated. They are simple, understandable human errors driven by fear, embarrassment, or the instinct to explain oneself. Talking to Police Without an Attorney This is the mistake we see most frequently. When you are scared and feel like cooperating will help your

The Mistakes First-Time Offenders Make Most Often Read More »

The Strategic Value of Taking Initiative

Beyond the formal mechanisms, there is a broader strategic consideration that applies to virtually every first-time offender case: the value of demonstrating genuine accountability and constructive action even before your case is resolved. Prosecutors and judges are human beings who are making judgment calls about how to treat the person in front of them. A

The Strategic Value of Taking Initiative Read More »

First-Time Offenders in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know About Your Options

The fear on the face of a first-time offender is different from any other kind of fear we see in our office. It has a particular quality — part shock, part shame, part disorientation of someone who has never before found themselves on the wrong side of the criminal law and simply cannot reconcile their

First-Time Offenders in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know About Your Options Read More »

How Long Does a Massachusetts Criminal Case Take?

Understanding the timeline is useful context. Simple misdemeanor cases in District Court can sometimes be resolved in a few months, while more complex felony cases in Superior Court can take a year or more from arraignment to resolution. Your case may involve multiple court dates — hearing after hearing at which procedural matters are addressed

How Long Does a Massachusetts Criminal Case Take? Read More »

The Stages of a Massachusetts Criminal Case

Stage 1: The Clerk Magistrate’s Hearing (Show Cause Hearing) This is a stage that many people are unaware of — and missing it can be a costly mistake. When a citation for a misdemeanor is issued without an arrest, the person has a right to a show cause hearing before a clerk magistrate of the

The Stages of a Massachusetts Criminal Case Read More »