The Cambridge District Court, also known as the Third District Court of Middlesex County serves the communities of Arlington, Cambridge, and Belmont. Any arrests of criminal citations from police departments in these jurisdictions are settled in the Cambridge courthouse, as well as State police incidents, such as highway stops on the Eastern end of Route 2.
Where is the Cambridge District Court located?
Not where you’d think it’d be! It’s actually in Medford. Which is sort of like extreme North Cambridge (ok, not really), near Everett and Somerville. In fact, many people coming from Cambridge drive right past the Somerville District Court to get here.
The address of the court house is:
4040 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford, MA 02155
Wait, why is the Cambridge District Court actually in Medford?
The former court location in East Cambridge was known as the Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse, located on Thorndike St in Cambridge, the 22 story building was closed in 2009 for asbestos remediation.
It’s an excellent question as to why they couldn’t relocate in Cambridge, as well as why there isn’t a serious effort to build a new modern courthouse in the City. But that’s State government for you.
Where do I park at the Cambridge District Court?
There is a parking lot around the building. At least that is an advantage to the building being outside the city.
Can I get to the Cambridge District Court on the MBTA?
Yes, there are a number of MBTA Bus Routes that run through this busy section of Medford, at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway, Fellsway, and Revere Beach Parkway. Bus lines that run in the area include the 90, 97, 99, 100, 106, 108, 110, 112 and 134 buses.
Wellington Station on the Orange Line is the closest subway stop, it’s just under a mile walk.
Can I bring my phone into the Courthouse?
Yes, Cambridge does not restrict mobile phones and electronic devices from entering the courthouse building, as many courts do.
Where are Clerk’s hearings in the Cambridge District court?
The clerk’s office can tell you which hearing room is being used for Clerk Magistrate’s hearings, as well as check you in and tell you where to wait to be called.
Clerk’s hearings are the best chance to avoid a criminal case from proceeding, so while it isn’t required that an attorney represent you at the hearing, it is almost always in your interest to do so. Magistrate’s have very wide discretion to not issue a charge if we can come up with a good reason for them not to, and that’s what we work to achieve for our clients.
Clerk Magistrate’s hearings at the Cambridge District Court are closed to the public as they are at most courthouses. Only participants, witnesses, and court personnel are allowed in the hearing room.
The probation department processes anyone who is scheduled for an arraignment that day. They will check you in and inquire if you want to be evaluated for eligibility for a court appointed attorney to defend you (if you qualify financially).
After checking in with Probation, they will direct you to the arraignment session courtroom that day. When your name is called, you will stand up and plead “not guilty” after the charges are read into the record, and you are formally arraigned, i.e. charged with a crime.
A court clerk will give you paperwork with your next court appearance, a pretrial conference with a prosecutor to discuss your case and possible plea deals.
Always ask for a copy of the police report at this time.
I got a letter from the Cambridge Police Department asking me to come in for questions. Should I go?
Separate issue from the Courthouse, but we actually get this question regularly.
The Cambridge police department is fond of sending out sometimes frightening looking letters insist you appear there at a specific date and time of their choosing to be interviewed. For example, if someone identified your license plate in a hit and run case, you’ll get this letter.
You are not obligated to speak to the police, and shouldn’t do so without speaking to an attorney first.
We have represented several clients in police interviews in cases like this, and successfully avoided having the police officer pursue a criminal charge. If an attorney speaks for you, we can admit to things hypothetically that would be incriminating if you said them yourself, and often work out a deal to avoid further problems.
Where Can I eat near the Cambridge District Court in Medford
Directly next to the courthouse is Bertucci’s, and we are big fans of their rolls. There are lots of chain places very close by.
Around the corner in the Wellington Circle Plaza strip mall is Kabab Corner for Indian, a Chipotle, a Boston Market, and a Panera a little further up.
Just across the road at Station Landing is a Five Guys, Pizzeria Regina, and Kelly’s Roast Beef. There is also Yoki for Japanese, Margaritas for adequate sit down chain Mexican, and a Qdoba if you insist on a chain burrito that is inferior to Chipotle.