Being Accused is Traumatic. We Understand.
We Get You Safely Through the Storm.
When you call or use the chat on our website, a real person responds — not an AI bot — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Defending good people who have a really bad day.
Ernest Stone has been defending clients in Waltham District Court for more than 30 years.
We know this courthouse, we know its procedures and players.
If you or someone you care about has been charged with a crime in Waltham, Watertown, or Weston, Waltham District Court is where your case will be heard, and we are ready to help.
Serious felony cases from Waltham District Court are sometimes moved to Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, and we handle those cases there too.
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You can review examples of our case results here.
Waltham District Court is accessible via the Fitchburg/South Acton commuter rail line. The closest stop is Waltham Station.
The courthouse is also accessible by Bus 70.
There is parking behind the courthouse, and there is also a free commercial lot across the street. The lot behind the courthouse is limited and fills up by mid-morning, so if it is full, head across the street.
Massachusetts has 62 district courts, each responsible for criminal cases arising within a defined geographic area. Waltham District Court serves Waltham, Watertown, and Weston.
District court is where the overwhelming majority of criminal cases are handled from start to finish, including arraignments, bail hearings, pretrial conferences, motions, and trials.
The courthouse at 38 Linden Street was built between 1938 and 1940 in the Art Deco style, designed by architect Charles R. Greco. Waltham sits at the junction of the Mass Pike, Route 128, and Route 20, and is home to a significant commercial and retail base alongside Brandeis University and Bentley University. Cases here draw from all of it — highway-adjacent traffic and OUI matters, retail and commercial-area incidents, campus-connected cases that range from minor to serious, and everything else a busy district court sees.
Route 128 and I-95 run through Waltham, and this stretch of highway is among the more actively patrolled OUI corridors in Middlesex County.
If you served in the military, the Middlesex County Veterans Treatment Court sits at Framingham District Court, and a case from Waltham District Court may be able to transfer there. Learn how we represent veterans.
Waltham District Court is one of 12 District Courts in Middlesex County. Our Middlesex County criminal defense attorney page lists the others.
If a case that starts in Waltham District Court is indicted and moves up to Superior Court, it will be heard in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. We have extensive experience with cases there.
Brandeis and Bentley both run their own student conduct proceedings, and those move on a separate track from the criminal case. What a student says to a campus conduct office can end up in the criminal case, and decisions made in one forum can affect the other. If you are a student or a parent of one, it is important that both tracks are handled together rather than separately.
The Route 128 corridor brings a large professional and international population through this court, including people working in technology and biotech on work visas, and students on student visas. For anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, we build the immigration analysis into the case from day one. A disposition that looks lenient in court, including a continuance without a finding, can be treated as a conviction under federal immigration law and carry consequences long after the case is over.
Get to the courthouse by 8:30. Parking is tough here, and you want time to find a space and get through security before the session starts.
This one catches people. As you face the building, there is a set of large granite steps that look like the main entrance, leading up to the second floor. Those are not the way in. The actual entrance is to the left of those steps, at ground level — a regular-sized door with a sign that says ENTER HERE.
Once inside, you are in a narrow corridor with a metal detector.
Probation is straight ahead of you. If you are there for an arraignment, this is where you check in. You only check in on the arraignment date — you do not have to check in every time you come to court.
The main courtroom is upstairs. Take a right after the metal detector and go up the stairs to the second floor. When you reach the atrium at the top, the courtroom is on your right and the Clerk's Office is on your left.
There are benches in the atrium where you can sit while you wait. The bathrooms are downstairs on the first floor.
Check in at the Clerk's Office and they will tell you where your hearing will be held.
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
"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
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:
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.
