Being Accused is Traumatic. We Understand.
We Get You Safely Through the Storm.
Defending good people who have a really bad day.
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We have been defending clients in Lynn District Court for over 30 years, in cases ranging from OUI to serious assault and battery to gun and drug charges.
Lynn District Court sits minutes from Route 1A, the Lynnway, and Route 129, corridors that feed a steady OUI docket in this courthouse.
If you or someone you care about has been charged with a crime in Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus, or Swampscott, Lynn District Court is where your case will be heard, and we are ready to help. Serious felony cases from Lynn District Court are sometimes moved to Essex Superior Court in Salem, where we have a successful trial record.
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You can review examples of our case results here.
Lynn District Court is accessible via the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line, get off at Lynn Station, approximately half a mile from the courthouse. Bus routes serving the courthouse: Bus 426, Bus 429, Bus 435, Bus 436, Bus 439, Bus 441, Bus 442, Bus 445, Bus 448, and Bus 449.
There is no free parking at the courthouse. Metered street parking is available on surrounding streets. Two paid parking lots are within short walking distance of the courthouse.
Facing an OUI charge specifically in Lynn? See our dedicated Lynn OUI Defense page for penalties, defenses, and license consequences.
Massachusetts has 62 district courts, each responsible for cases arising within its geographic area. Lynn District Court serves Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus, and Swampscott. It is located at 580 Essex Street in Lynn. District court handles arraignments, bail hearings, motions, and trials for misdemeanors and some felonies. More serious felony matters are transferred to Essex County Superior Court in Salem. Juvenile matters for this area are heard at the Essex County Juvenile Court at 139 Central Avenue in Lynn.
If you served in the military, Essex County has a Veterans Treatment Court at Lawrence District Court, and a case from Lynn District Court may be able to transfer there. Learn how we represent veterans.
Lynn District Court is one of eight District Courts in Essex County. To find the court for another town, see our Essex County criminal defense page.
Lynn is a busy courthouse and it can feel hectic. That is normal. Give yourself time and do not let the pace rattle you.
Get to the building by 8:30 if you are here for an arraignment. You will need time to go through intake at the Probation Department. Arraignments typically begin between 9:00 and 9:30, though your case may be called later while paperwork is prepared.
You enter from Essex Street and go through security immediately. To your right is a staircase up to the second floor, with the clerk's office just beyond it. The elevator is straight ahead. To your left are the Probation Department and a second staircase. Either staircase works, they meet at the top.
For an arraignment, check in at probation first. Tell the person at the counter that you are there for an arraignment intake. They will ask for your full name, date of birth, contact information, and residential and employment information. This is standard: the court uses it to run a background check and open your file. The probation officer will tell you exactly where to go next.
All courtrooms are on the second floor. At the top of the stairs you are facing the elevators. The first session, to the right of the elevators, is where arraignments are held. Courtroom 2, to the left of the elevators, handles most pretrial hearings. Courtroom 3, continuing around to the left, is where trials are initially called and where other motion hearings are held. Courtroom 4, all the way to the right, is the trial session.
A short hallway to the right of the elevators leads to the hearing room used for clerk magistrate hearings, and to the domestic violence office. If you are here for a clerk's hearing, check in at the clerk's office downstairs and they will direct you.
Benches line the hallway while you wait for your courtroom to open. The men's room is on the left side of the hallway and the women's is on the right.
Because Lynn carries a heavy docket, waits before a case is called are often longer than at smaller courts. Plan for that.
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 Lynn 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.
Lynn is the largest city in Essex County, and Route 1A, the Lynnway, and Route 129 feed a steady OUI and motor vehicle calendar into this courthouse. The size and density of the city also bring the full range of criminal matters typical of an urban docket, including drug, firearms, assault, domestic violence, and restraining order cases, alongside active clerk-magistrate sessions.
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.
College students face the same charges as anyone else: OUI, disorderly conduct, minor in possession, drug possession, and assault charges arising from parties or 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. For students attending tuition-free under the state's free community college program, that aid is worth protecting.
Health and allied health programs carry an added layer. Programs that place students in clinical settings generally require background checks, and a conviction, sometimes even a pending charge, can put a clinical placement or a future license at risk. Students on those tracks often have more riding on the outcome than the sentence alone suggests.
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.
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
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.
"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
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:
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
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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.
Contact our team today for a free consultation. We are available 24/7.
