Plymouth District Court is a busy courthouse with jurisdiction over 8 towns on the south shore in Plymouth County. A large stretch of Route 3 heading down to cape cod is in this region also.
Route 3 is actively patrolled by the Massachusetts State police, so we see a fair amount of OUI arrests in this court and other charges resulting from police stops.
Where is Plymouth District Court located?
52 Obery Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
What is the Jurisdiction of the Court?
Criminal matters from the local south shore towns of Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Plympton are addressed in the Plymouth court.
What time should I arrive?
Plan on arriving ½ an hour before your scheduled start time (doors open at 8:30 AM) and we will do the same. Plymouth generally calls the list promptly at 9:00 AM, so be there on time to avoid a default by missing your call to appear.
Can I bring my phone inside the courthouse?
Yes, Plymouth does not restrict electronic devices from being allowed through building security. However, you absolutely can’t use your smartphone at all within a courtroom. Use is restricting to only the hallways. And you are never allowed to take any photos anywhere inside the courthouse.
What if I don’t have a car?
Plymouth is served by the Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway company bus line. It runs buses from South Station in Boston to the cape.
The nearest stop in Plymouth is the park and ride lot on Exit 5 of Route 3, which is about a mile from the courthouse. It’s not a great walk, though. Google maps doesn’t even give walking directions under the highway via Long Pond Road, but it should be doable.
Where do I Park?
There is free parking located at the courthouse.
Where should I meet my attorney?
If you are meeting one of our attorneys for the first time, we usually meet just inside the courthouse near the clerk’s office. Otherwise, we will usually meet you just outside of the courtroom in which the case is being heard.
Arraignment at Plymouth District Court
If you’re in Hingham to appear at an arraignment, check in with the probation department first. This is required and they will not ask you anything about the facts of your case (so you can do this without your attorney). They will ask you for your license and take basic contact and background information. If you have private counsel, let them know and they won’t take any financial information, If you’re looking for a public defender, Probation will evaluate your eligibility based on the financial information you give.
Where is the Arraignment Session?
Once you are checked in with Probation, you can go to the Arraignment Session. Adult arraignments take place in the First Session courtroom, which is located directly next door to the Adult Probation office (courtroom furthest down on the left as you enter the building). The Juvenile Session is also next door to Adult Probation (first courtroom on the left).
What if I’m there for a Clerk-Magistrate’s Hearing?
You should check in with the Clerk’s office, which is located on the 1st floor, on the right after the security station (again, you can do this without your attorney, as you’re just letting them know that you arrived and confirming the courtroom). If possible, have your Notice with you in case the clerk wants the docket number. They will likely have you sit in the hallway directly in front of the Clerk’s Office until your case is called.
Where is the Pre-Trial Conference Session?
Pre-Trial Conferences are generally held in the First Session courtroom, which is the same as the Arraignment Session (courtroom furthest down on the left as you enter the building).
Where is the Trial Session?
Trials are usually held in the courtroom located on the 1st Floor, down the hallway located adjacent to the security station. However, this varies and we will let you know which courtroom to go to.
Is there anywhere good to eat?
There isn’t anything within a short walk except for coffee shops, although Marylou’s coffee across the street is very good, and is a legit south shore experience if you haven’t been, and enjoy coffee or any form of sugary food or drink.
Otherwise, there are lots of chain restaurants on the other side of the Route 3 highway south on Long Pond Road at the Grove at Plymouth outdoor shopping area. There is a Panera bread there, a Subway, the Plymouth House of Pizza and several other fast food restaurants.
For fancier fare or local seafood, you can head North on Obery Street and take a left to go north on Route 3A into downtown. There are lots of restaurants along the waterfront, and it’s a scenic place to visit.
