New Bedford District Court

Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Massachusetts District Courts hear all misdemeanors, felonies punishable by up to five years, and some more serious felonies. They also hear civil cases likely worth no more than $50,000. This location adds an Adult Drug Court and a Mental Health Court. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office handles prosecutions.

Mass.gov lists metered street parking and a paid public parking garage. The court is accessible by the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority.

Court officers screen everyone entering with metal detectors and X-ray machines. Leave weapons at home, and do not take photos or video inside.

At your first court date, go to the probation office before the courtroom. Probation does an intake interview and checks your record for the judge. In the courtroom, answer “Present” when your name is called. The charges are read and a not guilty plea is usually entered. The judge can appoint a lawyer if you qualify, may address bail, and usually sets a pretrial conference date.

Some cases begin with a show cause hearing before a clerk-magistrate. A person accused of a misdemeanor who was not arrested is generally entitled to one. Read our show cause hearing guide for more.

With a breath or blood test of 0.08 or more (0.02 under 21), police generally suspend your license right away. If they did not, the judge must do so at arraignment once the prosecutor makes the required showing. The suspension lasts until the case ends, capped at 30 days (M.G.L. c. 90 § 24N). A refusal carries a separate, longer suspension.

Search MassCourts (masscourts.org) for free case information and court dates. Most criminal cases are searchable only by docket number, so copy it exactly. Bring every paper about your case and set aside at least three hours.

Get advice before resolving a case at arraignment. The court system notes that a plea can affect immigration status, public housing, and student loans. We look at the charges, prepare you, and appear with you. Lisa DiLibero, Esq., is admitted in Massachusetts and handles the firm’s Massachusetts matters, and Dylan C. DiLibero, Esq., appears in all Massachusetts state courts. We answer. We listen. We fight.