Being Accused is Traumatic. We Understand.
We Get You Safely Through the Storm.
Defending good people who have a really bad day.
.png)
We have been defending clients in Haverhill District Court for over 30 years, including OUI cases from first offenses to repeat charges with serious mandatory penalties. I-495 and the Route 97 and Route 110 corridors near the New Hampshire line feed a steady OUI calendar in this courthouse. If you or someone you care about has been charged with a crime in Boxford, Bradford, Georgetown, Groveland, or Haverhill, Haverhill District Court is where your case will be heard, and we are ready to help. Serious felony cases from Haverhill District Court are sometimes moved to Essex Superior Court in Salem, where we have a successful trial record.
.jpg)
You can review examples of our case results here.
Haverhill District Court is accessible via the MBTA Haverhill Line. The closest stop is Haverhill Station, approximately a mile from the courthouse. The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) also serves the area.
Unlike most courthouses in the area, parking at Haverhill District Court is free. There is free public parking on Ginty Boulevard with a 10-hour limit, and a free lot behind the courthouse. The 10-hour limit is long enough to cover a full court day.
If you have just been arrested, released, or received a summons, take a breath. Here is what you need to do right now.
● Don't talk to police without a lawyer present -- you have the right to remain silent and you should use it
● Don't discuss your case with anyone except your attorney
● Don't contact any alleged victims or witnesses
● Preserve any evidence that might help your defense: photos, text messages, surveillance footage, witness contact information
● Write down everything you remember about what happened while it is still fresh
● Don't post anything about your case on social media
● Follow all court orders and conditions of release exactly
● Contact an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney as soon as possible
Facing an OUI charge specifically in Haverhill? See our dedicated Haverhill OUI Defense page for penalties, defenses, and license consequences.
Massachusetts has 62 district courts, each responsible for cases arising within its geographic area. Haverhill District Court serves Boxford, Bradford, Georgetown, Groveland, and Haverhill. It is located at 45 Ginty Boulevard in Haverhill, and it includes an Adult Drug Court session. District court handles arraignments, bail hearings, motions, and trials for misdemeanors and many felonies. More serious felony matters are transferred to Essex County Superior Court in Salem.
If you served in the military, Essex County has a Veterans Treatment Court at Lawrence District Court, and a case from Haverhill District Court may be able to transfer there. Learn how we represent veterans.
For the other District Courts that serve the Merrimack Valley and the rest of the county, see our Essex County criminal defense page.
Haverhill is a smaller building but a busy court.
Get to the building by 8:30 if you are here for an arraignment. Arraignments typically begin between 9:00 and 9:30, though your case may be called later while paperwork is prepared.
Go up the granite steps and in through the main door. Security screening is just inside. Coming out of the metal detector, the doors to the first session courtroom are directly in front of you and the clerk's office is to your right and slightly behind you. A corridor runs off to your left.
Follow that corridor to the end, through a set of doors, then left, to reach Courtroom 2, the trial session. Benches in the hallway are where people wait for trial cases to be called.
Probation is downstairs, directly across the hall from the district attorney's office at the bottom of the stairs. For an arraignment, check in at probation when you arrive. Tell the person at the counter that you are there for an arraignment intake. They will ask for your contact information, date of birth, and residential and employment information. This is standard: the court uses it to run a background check and open your file.
If you are here for a clerk magistrate hearing, check in at the clerk's office rather than probation.
If you have retained us, we will be there with you from the moment you arrive.
Before a criminal complaint is formally issued in many Massachusetts cases, a Clerk Magistrate Hearing, also called a show cause hearing, takes place at the courthouse. At this hearing, the clerk magistrate reviews an application for a complaint and determines whether there is probable cause to issue it.
This hearing is one of the most important opportunities in a criminal case. If the clerk magistrate finds insufficient probable cause, no complaint issues, meaning no arraignment, no criminal record, no case. Even when a complaint does issue, a skilled defense attorney can use the hearing to develop the facts, assess the evidence, and begin building a defense before the case moves forward.
You are not required to have an attorney at a clerk magistrate hearing, but appearing without one is a serious mistake. The Commonwealth will have a police officer or prosecutor present the case for a complaint. You should have someone equally prepared to present your side. We regularly represent clients at clerk magistrate hearings at Haverhill District Court.
If you have received a notice for a clerk magistrate hearing, call us immediately. These hearings move quickly, and early intervention makes a significant difference.
I-495 and the Route 97 and Route 110 corridors near the New Hampshire line feed a steady OUI docket into this courthouse. Haverhill District Court also runs an Adult Drug Court session, alongside the drug, firearms, assault, domestic violence, and restraining order matters typical of a busy North Shore court, and active clerk-magistrate sessions.
Northern Essex Community College's main campus is on Elliott Street in Haverhill, and cases involving its students are heard at Haverhill District Court, along with cases from Bradford, Boxford, Georgetown, and Groveland.
College students face the same charges as anyone else: OUI, drug charges, assault and battery, domestic violence allegations, and sexual assault allegations arising from incidents on or near campus.
A criminal charge of any kind can trigger a parallel proceeding through the school itself. That process runs on its own timeline, follows its own rules, and can affect enrollment, financial aid, and standing regardless of how the criminal case turns out.
Some programs carry an added layer. Northern Essex offers health care and criminal justice programs among its largest, and a conviction can close doors in both fields. Programs that place students in clinical settings generally require background checks, and a student heading toward law enforcement, corrections, or probation work may find a record disqualifying long before a job application is ever filed.
Immigration status matters here too. For a student who is not a United States citizen, a plea that looks minor on paper can carry consequences well beyond the courthouse.
We handle both the criminal case and the school process at the same time, and we build that strategy into the defense from day one.
Our Comprehensive Criminal Defense approach means we view you not as a legal problem, but as a whole individual living a unique and valued life. We focus on addressing the underlying issues that may have contributed to your legal situation, with the goal of helping you make lasting positive changes.
For some examples of cases we have handled, go here
We have won acquittals or obtained reduced charges or sentences in many types of criminal cases, including:
.jpg)
Immediate Response: Our phones are answered 24/7 by a real person. When you call, someone will actually answer.
Confidential Discussion: Everything you tell us is protected by attorney-client privilege, even before you formally hire us. You can speak freely about your situation.
No Pressure: A free consultation means exactly that: free, with no obligation. We’ll listen to your situation, answer your questions, and explain how we can help.
Clear Next Steps: If you decide to hire us, we’ll explain our fee structure clearly and work with you on payment arrangements that fit your situation.
Immediate Protection: Once you retain us, we begin working on your case immediately: preserving evidence, investigating facts, and protecting your rights.
"I knew the moment I spoke to Ernie on the phone he was the real deal... We won our case because of his perseverance and professionalism. He's just a really good person who's in your corner fighting for you."
- C.A
"Attorney Stone understands that every client or potential client that he comes across is going through one of the most difficult periods a person will encounter in life... and he makes it part of his job to make sure you feel supported, calm, and confident throughout the process."
- G.C
"Ernie Stone did such an amazing job in helping me out with my case... I truly felt so comfortable working with him... He went above and beyond, and I could not be more grateful... I would recommend Attorney Stone to anyone."
- M.K
Ernie was invaluable in realizing a successful outcome to my case. He made the whole process straightforward and relaxed and his advice and assistance was concise and reassuring. I would absolutely hire him again if needed as he worked diligently to ensure a positive conclusion. Highly recommended!
- N.H
Ernie is an incredible lawyer and a wonderful mentor. I would highly recommend him and trust his advice and expertise.
- J.C
An attorney and a team who really cares about their clients. He did his absolute best in the court room and I got my case dropped thanks to him. I recommend to anyone looking for the best lawyer in town! Positive Quality, Professionalism.
- J.B
Contact our team today for a free consultation. We are available 24/7.
