Dedham district court serves the towns of Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Needham, Norwood, Wellesley, and Westwood for criminal matters and other court issues.
It is a fairly busy courtroom for a wide variety of criminal case types.
Criminal driving offenses on a big stretch of I-95 from Norwood to Wellesley are adjudicated in this courthouse. This is true whether they are the result of local town police stops or Massachusetts State Police troopers.
Where is the Dedham District Court located?
The courthouse is located at
631 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026
Where do I park near the court?
Parking can be challenging. There are meters along the streets, but they are in high demand.
There is a paid public parking lot behind the Registry of Deeds building next door which charges $5 to park.
How about public transportation?
There are a number of MBTA bus lines that go through Dedham Square. The 34E is the closest at Washington St. and High St. Dedham is also serviced by Bus routes 35, 36, and 52.
Can I bring my cell phone inside the courthouse?
Yes. Dedham allows you to bring a mobile electronic device or smartphone to the building. But you are strictly prohibited from using them in the courtrooms or taking any pictures anywhere inside.
Where do Clerk Magistrate’s hearings happen in Dedham?
If you get a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing date after a criminal citation, first you check-in at the Clerk’s office after getting through courthouse security. The Clerk’s office will let you know in which courtroom the Clerk Magistrate’s hearings are being held that day.
Does Dedham district Court have remote clerk magistrate’s hearings on Zoom?
Yes, I have had remote Zoom hearings in the Dedham court. You can request it, but nothing is guaranteed.
What do I go for an arraignment in Dedham?
If you are being arraigned in Dedham, show up in plenty of time for a 9 am arraignment session call. 8:30 is best. You will first check-in with the Probation department after going through the building security line and metal detector.
Probation does a standard screening and questionnaire for eligibility for a court-appointed lawyer before arraignments. If you have hired your own attorney to appear at the arraignment or don’t want to be evaluated, you can ask them to skip it.
Probation will direct you to the courtroom where the arraignment session is being held. When you are called, you will stand up before the judge. A court Clerk will read the charge or charges against you, and you will plead not guilty, and usually be giving another court date for a pretrial on the spot.
What about a pretrial conference or trial date in the Dedham District Court?
These always change depending on availability of rooms and judges. Your attorney will check with the prosecutor to work out a place to conference to discuss any plea offers.
Where should I eat lunch near the Dedham District Court?
Dedham square and the surrounding area has a few decent spots. Pancho’s Taqueria is popular on Yelp, and Eggs and Thai with Thai Fusion and American dishes also is right across the street from the courthouse.
