Latest news with #CPCS
Boston Globe
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Legislature leaders propose pay raise for court-appointed lawyers in effort to end work stoppage
'What we are doing over a two-year period is giving a significant pay raise to the bar advocates,' said House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, a North End Democrat. 'We feel that no one ever gets 100 percent in what they ask for, but this is a significant step in resolving that issue.' Advertisement The agreement unveiled Wednesday includes a $10-an-hour pay raise this year and another $10-an-hour on top of that next year, according to a summary released by Beacon Hill leaders. The bar advocates have sought $35-an-hour more this year and $25-an-hour the following year. At the lowest rung of pay, the state currently gives the attorneys in district court $65-an-hour. Advertisement It's a constitutional right, as well as state law, for people accused of a crime to have access to an attorney, even if they cannot afford it. In Massachusetts, the more than 2,500 bar advocates typically represent about 80 percent of indigent criminal defendants, with the rest covered by staff attorneys from the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the state's public-defender agency. It's unusual for states to rely so heavily on private attorneys, and that split gave the bar advocates significant leverage as they stopped taking cases. The proposal unveiled Wednesday would add $40 million to CPCS's budget to dramatically expand its ranks of staff public defenders by about 320 lawyers. The agreement also would add language to bar-advocate contracts that would lay out minimum requirements and state that any future collective action not to take assignments would be an antitrust violation. The measure will go to the full Legislature for passage on Thursday. Sean Cotter can be reached at
Boston Globe
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Judge could dismiss charges against more than 100 defendants without lawyers amid work stoppage
Advertisement However on Monday, the committee filed an emergency petition asking the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to order Juvenile Court judges in six counties to follow similar protocols and dismiss charges against juveniles who have gone too long without legal representation. There 'is an ongoing systemic violation of indigent [youths'] constitutional rights to effective assistance of counsel due to CPCS's incapacity to provide such assistance through its staff attorneys,' or through court-appointed bar advocates, the lawyers for the committee wrote. Attorney Shira Diner, former president of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, said the push to dismiss cases against juveniles and adults 'shows just how deep and severe this crisis is.' Advertisement At the heart of this crisis is the work stoppage 'We're going to have cases closed without resolution. I would urge everybody who cares about public safety to be in support of our bar advocates and help them get back to work,' Diner said. Governor Maura Healey told reporters last week that she would 'do everything I can to advocate for a swift resolution' to the work stoppage. She said bar advocates 'deserve to be paid a fair wage' and 'it's not a good situation where people don't have representation and are being released.' Last month, legislative leaders sliced a measure from their $61 billion budget plan that would have raised the pay for some, but not all, of the state's court-appointed attorneys. At the time, Senate President Karen E. Spilka said 'hard decisions had to be made,' but she looked forward to talking to bar advocates directly 'to hear what their issues are.' On Monday, James Borghesani, a spokesperson for Suffolk District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden, said in a statement that prosecutors 'have done their utmost to oppose the release of serious offenders' since the work stoppage began. The 45-day mark, which triggers the court-ordered protocols requiring hearings, 'represents a significant escalation in the threat to public safety, with cases involving serious assaults, domestic violence and other high-level offenses up for potential dismissal,' Borghesani said. 'The danger is only going to expand and compound as the stoppage drags on and additional defendants are released.' Advertisement On July 3, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt had ordered Suffolk and Middlesex counties to follow what is known as the Lavallee Protocols in response to an earlier emergency petition filed by the public counsel committee. The agency represents about 20 percent of the state's indigent defendants and relies on some 2,500 bar advocates to take on remaining cases. Under the protocols, if defendants who can't afford to hire their own lawyers aren't appointed one as required by state law, then a judge should consider releasing them. State law generally requires defendants be provided a lawyer within an appropriate time. The courts have established that time to be seven days for those in custody and 45 days for anyone charged with a crime. In its latest emergency petition Monday, the public counsel committee said protocols should be expanded to include juveniles because the work stoppage was having a severe impact on them as well. As of Friday, there were 101 unrepresented children charged with crimes in the juvenile courts in Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties, according to the petition. One juvenile was being held in custody in Suffolk County while the charges are pending, and the rest were released. 'As in District Court, there is a chronic shortage of private counsel in juvenile courts across the Commonwealth which has been exacerbated by the work stoppage,' the petition says. 'Without a specific end date to the work stoppage combined with the ongoing counsel shortages in Juvenile Court, increasing numbers of children will face criminal charges and detention unrepresented.' Advertisement The petition says youths are afforded even more rights and privileges under the law than adults, including 'the opportunity to consult with an interested adult prior to any police interrogation,' making it critical that they immediately be appointed a lawyer once they are charged with a crime. Youths can also request that their cases be dismissed prior to arraignment, requiring a lawyer be retained before then. As such, the petition said requirements under the protocols should be even more stringent for juveniles than adults when it comes to lawyers. Youths may not be held for more than three days without counsel, the petition says, and charges should be dismissed if a lawyer does not file an appearance on behalf of a youth within 15 days of the youth's initial appearance in court. Also, according to the petition, no child may be placed in a diversion program prior to arraignment without consulting a lawyer about waiving their constitutional rights, which is required before entering such a program. The SJC has yet to rule on the petition. Shelley Murphy can be reached at
Irish Post
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Post
Teenager qualifies as Britain's youngest digger driver
A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has become the youngest person in Britain to qualify as a digger driver. This month Finlay Gallagher, of the Gallagher Group family, completed his digger driving training. The youngster spent his school holidays mastering the controls of the iconic JCB 3CX Plus backhoe loader, before passing his Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) test with flying colours at Flynne Plant Training Centre in Rochford, Essex. 'He demonstrated a confident grasp of both theory and hands-on operation, including digging, loading, lifting and using machine attachments with precision well beyond his years,' a spokesperson for the Gallagher Group confirmed. The construction firm was founded over 50 years ago by his grandfather, Pat Gallagher, In 1973 Mr Gallagher, who is now cahirman of the Group, launched his business with a single JCB 3C Mk2. Finlay Gallagher, of the Gallagher Group family, is the youngest person in Britain to pass the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) test (Pics: Gallagher Group) Now the firm operates more than 300 machines and employs more than 500 people across the South East of England. 'I've always said I wasn't much good behind the controls of a digger – so Finlay is already ahead of me,' Mr Gallagher said of his grandson's achievement. 'I am exceptionally proud of Finlay and everything he has achieved. 'He has always shown an incredible passion and interest for machinery from an early age, and this course has given him a chance to deepen his knowledge and ability. 'I was blown away by how naturally he took to it, and it really does give me great hope for the future.' Mr Gallagher added: 'Hopefully, this inspires many other young people to give it a go and see the construction industry as a fantastic career opportunity.' Finlay's dad, Stephen Gallagher, who is a director of the business, also sees a bright future ahead. 'Finlay's had a passion for diggers since he could walk. He's grown up with machinery all around him and has absorbed so much just by watching and asking questions.' Finlay Gallagher passed his test at the Flynne Plant Training Centre in Rochford, Essex (Pics: Gallagher Group) Reflecting on his achievement, Finlay confirmed he has 'loved diggers since I was really little – probably around three or four'. 'My grandad Dave used to drive me around in his dozer, while he did the pedals and I sat on his lap,' he explained. 'Then my grandad Pat got me interested in excavators and backhoe loaders, which started my love of JCBs,' he added. 'I definitely see my future in the construction industry. :My grandad Pat started the Gallagher Group, and it would mean a lot to me to play a part in helping the business continue to grow. 'This qualification is a great first step, and I'm keen to build on it by learning to operate more types of plant machinery.' Derek Mansfield of Flynne Plant Training, said the teenager was 'one of the most enthusiastic and capable young candidates we've had'. 'His control of the machine and understanding of how it operates were far beyond what you'd expect at his age,' Mr Mansfield said. 'He picked things up incredibly quickly and showed real natural ability. 'He's now officially the youngest person in the UK to pass this qualification, which is a fantastic achievement. T 'he Gallagher family should be very proud. 'We'd welcome Finlay back any time to train on more machines, and I genuinely look forward to seeing where his skills take him next.' See More: Digger Driver, Finlay Gallagher, Gallagher Group
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Criminal defendants are being held without lawyers in Mass. as bar advocates refuse new cases
More than 50 people across Boston and neighboring Middlesex County are being held without a lawyer assigned to their case as bar advocates across Massachusetts continue to refuse to take on new cases, according to the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In a statement Monday evening, the association said the growing number of unrepresented people in Massachusetts, which it says has grown to exceed 240 in just Boston and Middlesex County, represents a crisis. As of last week, roughly 40 people in Boston were being held in custody without a lawyer, and more than 150 were unrepresented, the association said. In Middlesex County, which includes Cambridge, 16 people are being held without lawyers and 90 people accused of crimes are awaiting a court-appointed attorney, according to the statement. Read more: A right to an attorney? Court-appointed lawyers are refusing cases in Mass. over low pay It was not immediately clear what the statewide totals were, but the association indicated there are 'many others who remain locked in custody with no one as their voice.' The association's president, Shira Diner, said the numbers reflected a 'full-blown constitutional breakdown.' 'The right to counsel is not a luxury. It is a bedrock principle of our justice system, guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment and by Article 12 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights,' Diner said. 'When people are jailed without lawyers, the system ceases to be just — or constitutional.' Bar advocates are independent defense attorneys who represent those who can not afford lawyers. They are not part of the state's public defender agency, the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Those attorneys have been refusing to take on new cases amid a pay dispute. The association says bar advocates in Massachusetts are paid far less than those in neighboring states. 'The unsustainable pay structure has led to an exodus of experienced attorneys and an inability to recruit new ones — with the result that hundreds of accused individuals find themselves in legal limbo," the association wrote in a statement. Read more: Bar advocate revolt over low pay expected to balloon across the state Anyone in custody for more than seven days without representation can be released under state law. If a lawyer is not assigned in that timeframe, courts are either forced to violate a person's constitutional right to an attorney or release them without due process, the association said. 'People accused of crimes are sitting in jail cells without a lawyer,' Diner continued. 'Others are missing crucial opportunities to gather necessary evidence and are left with nothing but uncertainty.' A spokesperson for the trial courts said the state's court system has been 'in communication' with CPCS 'in an effort to reduce disruptions due to the work stoppage by Bar Advocates.' Bar advocates handle about 80% of criminal cases for defendants who can't afford attorneys in Massachusetts courts. Mass. weather: Central Mass. could see over 1 inch of rain on Tuesday Some Nantucket short-term rentals in jeopardy after land court decision Big Y plans changes to its Tower Square store Mass. labor groups rally against ICE arrest of California union leader Driver taken to hospital after truck crashes into telephone pole in Belchertown Read the original article on MassLive.
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
The JCB driver who turned 'men's work' into her passion
Driving some of the most iconic diggers in the world in front of tens of thousands of people might sound like a dream come true for many little boys. But for Laure Ashton, the only female member of the world-famous 'Dancing Diggers', joining the team meant so much more. Her remarkable journey took her from training as a secretary to driving JCBs on a world stage. The 13-strong team of digger operators are based in a quarry in Staffordshire, England, owned by JCB, which is used for demonstration purposes and only puts on the high-octane stunts and acrobatics for very special occasions — including appearances for royalty and as part of the Top Gear Live tour. Team leader Matthew Lucas explained the performances stem back to 1962, when JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford was demonstrating the machines to a customer at the factory. 'The customer was not quite convinced that the machine was strong enough for what he needed, and so he decided to put his own Cadillac car underneath a machine that was stood up. He left for lunch and, by the time he returned, he was convinced,' Matthew said. 'After that, they realised it was a great way of demonstrating the machines when customers came to the factory. They added more equipment, some music, and that's how it all began. When we do these routines, really, the idea is to show people the power, the strength, stability, and ruggedness of the machines.' The Dancing Diggers' stunts aim to show people the power, the strength, stability, and ruggedness of the machines. Picture: Brian Thompson Photography All of the machines used this week belong to customers and were sold by Northern Ireland dealer Dennison JCB. 'The machines are no different from how they were when they were purchased. We haven't changed anything to make them stand up … other than adding the pyro kits for the fireworks,' he said. While the team is famous for its digger choreography, dancing is only one aspect of the job. 'We travel the globe to demonstrate the machines, not just to dance them. We are trained to demonstrate and do installations,' Matthew said. 'But also we have to wash them and clean them,' adds ex-military digger driver Jack Fowkes, who joined the team in recent years. 'It isn't just a case of turning up and getting in the cab.' Like Jack, many of the other members of the troupe have operated diggers in their previous careers. Veteran member Nigel Walker, for instance, used to drive them on farms before he joined the team, giving him over 20 years of combined experience driving JCBs. 'We all go through professional CPCS [Construction Plant Competence Scheme] training with the Construction Industry Training Board — that's where you learn how to operate a digger for construction. In the team, you typically start on a Loadall and work your way up to a backhoe,' Matthew added. This year's performance at Balmoral, Scotland, not only marked their return to the show for the first time in more than 30 years — it also debuted a new routine created by a choreographer. 'What we normally do is go to a site, see what space we've got, see what machines we've got, and make it there, and then tailor it with the music to suit the country we're in. 'For example, here we had to slow the speed down to preserve the lawns. 'We have really enjoyed being here. It's been a great experience. The Irish people are good fun. Everybody we speak to wants to know about what we do and 'have the craic'.' The Dancing Diggers at the 2025 Balmoral Show. Picture: Brian Thompson Photography The impressive line-up of machines sourced by the local dealer included the one millionth 4CX, signed personally by Mr Banford. The model includes dual drive, which allows the operator chair to rotate in sync with the direction of travel of the machine. One crowd favourite, skiing beneath the backhoes in the Loadall, was Laure Ashton — the sole female on the team. Her incredible story, from secretary to global JCB demonstrator, has inspired many. Laure has been with JCB for three years, previously working on the Loadall backhoe assembly line. 'My family are so proud, and my children are so proud of me,' she said. Her favourite machine is the 370X Excavator. 'I like them because they are bigger. Bigger is always better,' she laughs. But Laure's journey hasn't been an easy one. As a child, she was strongly discouraged from pursuing anything that might be considered a 'man's job'. 'When I was a little girl, I remember I said to my mum I want to go to engineering school. I asked if could I do something in like electricity, or anything in engineering? ''No, no, no, no, it's for boys,' I was told. I said: 'Okay, mom, I want to do masonry.' And it was the same: 'No, no, no. It is for boys. You're not going to do that. The best thing you need to do is secretary training.' 'So I've been to secretary training, learning typing, shorthand … that kind of thing. 'When I got married to my husband, he was farming and had a few trucks. I said to myself: 'I've got it. That's where I'm going to learn, improve myself , and get driving the tractors, driving the big machines. 'When I started driving tractors, oh, that's nice. I love that. Then I start driving it all the time. When the JCB job come along, I applied for it. 'The farm really inspired me, because that's when I realised this is what I want to do — driving big machines.' Even more impressively, her move into machinery came when she was already in her 40s. 'I wanted to finish having all my children first and get them to school before I applied for JCB. So then when my son — who is my youngest — started primary school, I said: 'There we go. This is my time.' 'My husband wasn't thrilled at first, but I told him I was doing it, and I did.' Her advice to young girls interested in diggers? 'Go for your dream — do what you love and you are happy to do it. It might be a men's job, but I'm happy to do it and I'm glad to be part of such a great team.'
