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Somerville District Court

4.0 (3 reviews)

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Middlesex District Court

Middlesex District Court

1.8(6 reviews)
1.8 mi•East Cambridge

I feel the need to disinfect myself after being in this courthouse, and I didn't even sit down…read more Just taking my phone and keys out of my purse was enough when they had to go through the x-ray machine. After retrieving the purse, I then walked into the waiting area (I guess you would call it that) that looked like a casting call for both the Jerry Springer and Maury Povich shows. I know Middlesex is a huge county so it's going to be a scene and crowded, but really..... really??? Thankfully, I found my way upstairs to the file clerk, looked up what I needed (annoying state worker, as well) and got the hell out of there. As a side note, when I was on a jury for two weeks many years ago in Suffolk County, I thought we were living pretty well; compared to this hell hole, Suffolk County is Taj Mahal.

OMG. I we pay these people with our tax dollars?…read more I just had the rudest telephone call I have ever had with a public office. Me: Hello. I am a Cambridge resident and have a question regarding whether my lawyer (no longer practicing) has filed my will with your offices. Where do I begin? Clerk: No Me: No? Clerk: No. Me: That's is your answer: Just No? Clerk: That's it. Me: Wait. I am trying to find out how I go about finding out whether my will is filed. What do you mean "no"? Clerk: Because the answer is no. Me: What?! This isn't helpful. How do I find this information out? Clerk: I am not allowed to give out any information about wills. Clerk and Me: Silence. Me: Yes. So? Clerk: You have to come down in person and show ID and then we'll run your name by. Me: That would have been the helpful answer from the beginning. Goodbye. I can't wait for this trip to the Probate and Family Court......

John Joseph Moakley Courthouse

John Joseph Moakley Courthouse

4.6(14 reviews)
3.4 mi•Waterfront, South Boston

I've never reviewed a courthouse before, so five stars?!…read more I came here and attended the case on Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College back in 2018. So I can only speak about the experience here for the bench trial. Security is strict, and you must leave your cellphone with the front desk. After you tell them which courtroom you are going to, you then go through security. It's airport style, and make sure you have your photo ID with you. If I remember it correctly, the bench trial was on the fifth floor. The elevators were pretty fast. The bathrooms were clean. Actually during one of the days, the fire alarm went off so we had to exit through the side staircase. Outside the room, you get a beautiful waterfront view, it's very pretty! I heard such good things about the cafeteria and now I wish I had a chance to try it. That said, Seaport has transformed so much and there are endless options these days! Love it!

iawtc. I've been on…read moretwo "field trips" as it were to this courthouse for law school so far this year and there's so much to talk about. The court rooms are bright, pretty, with stenciled wall motifs and domed ceilings and colorful carpeting and light wood. They're not intimidating at all and have an old-school town hall meets grandma's living room feeling. I think the idea is to create a sense of community, the idea of a place where the people's voices are heard. Hard to articulate it better than that. It's literally an architectural embodiment of all the floofy ideals they keep telling us in law school that nobody actually listens to. It fits, of course, that all the judges I've met so far (and that's considerable since one of our field trips was a Q&A panel sponsored by the First Circuit in which a bunch of the circuit's top judges talked to us) are magnanimous, paternal and...sweethearts. I can't believe it. Not intimidating at all. It was very much, "You're welcome to come by and watch a trial in my courtroom any time!" Of course, they're all also scary brilliant and classy and composed and articulate like whoa. My second field trip was a sentencing and I think I witnessed the first experience of my life where I've literally seen someone "be merciful." It was even heartwarming. My friend and I had to hold back tears at the end and, keep in mind, we're LAW STUDENTS. LAW STUDENTS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOULS. Then again, the federal courts are supposed to be the "ivory tower" of the American justice system. But, all in all, my experiences at Moakley have been nothing if not refreshing. When I walk in there I really do feel like this is a house of justice. And Brandeis p0wns. Even the US Marshals manning the metal detectors are adorable. I hope if I'm ever indicted in federal court I get to be a defendant at Moakley! Also, subsidized Sebastian's cafeteria is delicious and this building may very well have the best chunk of waterfront real estate in the entire Boston metropolitan area.

Photos
John Joseph Moakley Courthouse - Outside

Outside

John Joseph Moakley Courthouse - Outside

Outside

John Joseph Moakley Courthouse

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Suffolk County Courthouse - Enter up the stairs here, next to Cafe Nero

Suffolk County Courthouse

3.4(20 reviews)
2.7 mi•Downtown

This is a review for the Suffolk Probate and Family Court…read more I've sat in Suffolk Family Court long enough to recognize the soundtrack. It's the shuffle of papers, the sighs, the clock that never moves, and the quiet sound of people's lives getting billed by the hour. You want to know what went wrong? I watched it. Day after day. Same hallway. Same fear. Different families. Judges? Overworked. Exhausted. Politicized. Good people once, now just trying to get through a docket like it's TSA on Thanksgiving. Lawyers? They don't fight for justice. They fight for extensions. Every motion is a revenue stream. Every delay is a vacation home getting closer. They drain savings accounts with straight faces and sleep just fine knowing the kids are collateral damage. And the guardians....don't get me started. Some of them shouldn't be guarding a goldfish. No grasp of psychology. No understanding of trauma. Enormous power. Minimal oversight. That's not protection, that's roulette. This system doesn't listen. It processes. It grinds families down until everyone's too tired to keep going, then calls that resolution. I left because I couldn't watch it anymore. Too many parents breaking. Too many kids learning early that adults in robes don't always mean safety. There's a sadness in those courtrooms you can feel in your chest. And if you're not careful, it teaches you to shrink. To comply. To shut up. Don't. Strength doesn't always look like winning. Sometimes it looks like enduring without losing yourself. Teach your kids to trust their instincts, even when adults in authority fail them. You have to walk in strong. Eyes up. Spine straight. Because intimidation is baked into the architecture. These people should not have the power they have. Not without real oversight. Real training. Real accountability. To the Governor of Massachusetts, the Governor's Council, the Chief Justice, and those charged with oversight of the Probate & Family Court: Families are trapped in this system for months and often years, waiting for decisions that directly affect children's safety, stability, and development. These delays are not administrative inconveniences--they cause real and lasting harm. Without rigorous review, nothing changes. Immediate intervention, transparency, and reform are required, including a comprehensive review of judicial performance and court operations to address the human cost of prolonged inaction. Family court shouldn't feel like punishment for loving your kids. And when it does, when it breaks families instead of protecting them that's not justice. That's rot. And anyone paying attention knows it. Tell your story. Silence is how this stays hidden.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR JURY DUTY: (1) phones and laptops ARE allowed past security, (2) you can buy food…read moreand drinks at the little cafe and credit cards are accepted, (3) limited wifi is available in the break room, (4) outlets are available in both rooms (though more of them are in the break room) I gotta say, this is about as well-organized a process as jury duty gets. Here is a brief rundown of my day (as others have also shared), with some tips along the way. Instructions mailed to me say to show up by 8am at the Suffolk County Courthouse at 3 Pemberton Square. Finding the courthouse is a little tricky. Most people will probably be coming from the Cambridge Street/Tremont Street side of the plaza, so just walk through the tunnel under the "Center Plaza" sign next to Caffe Nero at the intersection of Court Street and Tremont. Go past Caffe Nero on the right and walk up the stairs. When you get to the brick courtyard/parking area, follow the row of parked cars to the right and you will see the entrance to the courthouse. Once I entered the courthouse, here's how the day unfolded... 7:45 go through security (very short line of 2 people in front of me - security officers were very pleasant) 7:48 directed to take elevator to 2nd floor and go to Room 218 (easy to find, right near elevators) 7:50 check in and submit juror questionnaire (first one on line) 7:55 grab coffee and breakfast sandwich at "Court Café" (credit cards accepted) - sandwich was hot, fresh, and pretty good (tasted home made) 7:55-8:30 wait in main jury pool room or break room (break room is much smaller but has better AC and gets wifi; main room does not) 8:30-9:00 general instructions read, video about jury service shown, and judge speaks to jury pool 9:00-11:00 continue waiting in jury pool room with periodic announcements that they are waiting to hear from judges upstairs 11:00 the last trial reached a plea deal, so no one is needed today!!! Everyone leaves quickly before they change their minds! LOL At several points, we were reminded that we should receive a jury service certificate in 7-10 days in the mail. This will enable us to be excused from jury service again for 3 years.

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Suffolk County Courthouse
Suffolk County Courthouse - Pictures from the 15th floor

Pictures from the 15th floor

Suffolk County Courthouse

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Edward W Brooke Courthouse

Edward W Brooke Courthouse

2.8(10 reviews)
2.5 mi•West End, Downtown

Thanks to the incompetence of this place, I have lost time that I will never get back with my…read morechildren. The staff continues to lose paperwork, ignore calls, ignore requests, send court paperwork to the wrong location. I have been lied to be staff, as well as a woman who claimed to work for the courts, yet no one seemed to have any record of her when I followed up with what she told me later. The staff needs to be held accountable and better administrative practices needs to be put into place.

I'm doing my public service today, as a juror at the Edward M Brooke Courthouse. And like others I…read morewas a little surprised to see reviews on Yelp, but since this is an uncommon experience (how often does one visit a courthouse if you're not a lawyer) so I thought I would add my two cents. It's been an ok experience so far, other than the violation of my 4th amendment rights (unwarranted search) at the front door. The concession in the lobby is great because I really needed that second cup of coffee! The jury waiting room is pleasant and comfortable, it's nicely appointed, quiet, warm, and separate bathrooms for the jurors. Chairs are comfortable as well and the person greeting us was very nice. Overall it's been a pleasant experience. I dinged them one star for no public WiFi and the virtual strip search at the entrance.

Photos
Edward W Brooke Courthouse - The smaller room with vending and restroom access.

The smaller room with vending and restroom access.

Edward W Brooke Courthouse - Side view - Winter 2014/2015

Side view - Winter 2014/2015

Edward W Brooke Courthouse - Fall 2014

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Fall 2014

Somerville District Court - courthouses - Updated May 2026

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