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 Newburyport District Court for over 30 years, including OUI cases from first offenses to repeat charges with serious mandatory penalties. Newburyport's docket sees both sides of this: weekend stops downtown near State Street and Market Square, and highway enforcement along the Route 1 and I-95 corridors, especially during the summer beach season near Plum Island. If you or someone you care about has been charged with a crime in Amesbury, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, or West Newbury, Newburyport District Court is where your case will be heard, and we are ready to help. Serious felony cases from Newburyport 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.
Newburyport District Court is accessible via the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line. Get off at Newburyport Station, approximately a half-mile walk from the courthouse. The courthouse is also accessible through the Cape Ann Transit Authority.
The courthouse has free parking lots on site, so there is no need to find a meter or a garage downtown.
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 Newburyport? See our dedicated Newburyport OUI Defense page for penalties, defenses, and license consequences.
Massachusetts has 62 district courts, each responsible for cases arising within its geographic area. Newburyport District Court serves Amesbury, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury. It is located at 188 State Street in Newburyport. 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 Newburyport District Court may be able to transfer there. Learn how we represent veterans.
Ipswich District Court also sits in this building. Our Essex County page shows which court handles each town in the county.
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.
There are several doors at the front entrance, but only the one on the far right is unlocked. You go through security immediately on entering.
Probation is on your right and the clerk's office is on your left. Past the staircase, the district attorney's office is on the left and the jury pool room is on the right.
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 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. After arraignment you generally will not need to check in again unless a judge orders it.
All courtrooms are on the second floor, up the central staircase. The first session, immediately to your left at the top of the stairs, is where arraignments and most pretrial hearings are held. The second session, immediately to your right, is the trial session. Across the open area, the third session handles overflow pretrial hearings and trials along with clerk magistrate hearings, and the fourth session is juvenile court, which sits on Tuesdays only.
Benches line the walls on the second floor. When the court officers open the first session, you can go in and wait for your lawyer and your case to be called. There are restrooms and water fountains on the second floor, and the fountains have bottle fillers.
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 Newburyport 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.
Newburyport's historic downtown along State Street and Market Square sees its share of weekend OUI arrests, while the Route 1 and I-95 corridors near the New Hampshire border add a steady flow of motor vehicle stops. Salisbury Beach and Plum Island draw large summer crowds, and that seasonal population brings its own share of OUI and assault cases to this courthouse, alongside the domestic violence, drug, firearms, and restraining order matters that make up the year-round calendar.
Newburyport District Court covers the northeast corner of Essex County, from the beaches to the New Hampshire border. Two things about that geography shape this docket more than anything else.
The first is firearms. New Hampshire and Massachusetts treat guns very differently, and the drive across the line takes about a minute. A firearm that is entirely lawful to carry in New Hampshire can expose the same person to a serious felony charge the moment the car crosses into Massachusetts. A New Hampshire license does not carry over, and people are routinely charged after a traffic stop on Route 1 or I-95 having done nothing they understood to be illegal.
These are not minor cases. Massachusetts firearms charges carry mandatory minimum sentences upon conviction, and a person with a clean record and a lawful license at home can face state prison exposure. If this has happened to you, do not assume the situation will explain itself. How the stop happened, how the firearm was found, whether the search was lawful, and what you said to the officer all matter enormously, and they matter from the first day.
The second is the summer. Salisbury Beach, Plum Island, and the Route 1 corridor draw crowds that multiply the year-round population, and a significant share of the summer docket involves people who do not live here. If you were arrested while visiting and live in New Hampshire, Maine, or further away, your case still has to be answered in Newburyport. In many District Court matters we can appear on your behalf so you are not making that drive for every court date, and a Massachusetts OUI can still reach your license at home through the compact your own state belongs to.
The downtown along State Street and Market Square adds weekend OUI arrests to all of this, and the court runs the domestic violence and restraining order sessions that any busy district court does.
We defend firearms charges, serious OUI, and felony cases in Newburyport District Court and in Essex County Superior Court, for people who live here and for people who were passing through.
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.
