The city of Westfield, MA is in Hampden County, just west of Springfield in the Pioneer Valley. The Westfield District Court handles criminal cases and other district court matters within the jurisdiction of Agawam, Blandford, Chester, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland and Westfield.
Because this includes a fairly long stretch of the Mass turnpike west of I-91, there are a lot of OUI charges heard in Westfield. They can often be initiated by the Massachusetts State Police which actively patrols the pike in this area.
Where is the Westfield District Court located?
The courthouse is located at
224 Elm Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Can I easily park near the courthouse?
Yes, parking is free in a lot adjacent to the courthouse, but the lot is small and many spots are reserved for court employees.
If you can’t get there early enough and the lot is full on a busy day, There is a notice on the front door stating that if it fills up, there is additional parking at the tire shop across the street from CVS, which is right next to the courthouse.
Otherwise, there are municipal lots a few blocks away.
What about public transportation?
There is some bus service in Westfield via the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority if you are coming from somewhere in their service region.
You can take bus route R10 from West Springfield, or Blue 23 from Holyoke.
Can I bring my cell phone in the courthouse?
Yes, you can. Westfield does not restrict you from bringing a mobile phone through security. However, you absolutely can’t use your phone in a courtroom to talk or text, or take any photos within the courthouse building.
Where do I go for an Arraignment at the Westfield District Court?
The Arraignment session is Courtroom 1, located on the first floor straight ahead through security. But you will first need to go to the probation department to the left after passing through security.
Probation checks everyone in prior to arraignment, so leave yourself time to get through this process. You will be checked for eligibility for a court-appointed lawyer at this time if you choose to submit your financial information.
When appearing at an arraignment, if you don’t have a lawyer, you will simply enter a not guilty plea after the charge is read. Then you will be given another court date for a pretrial.
If you have an attorney at your arraignment, particularly for an OUI, and you’ve decided to work out a deal, we can often do that on the spot.
This can save you the time of coming back to court, and get you back on the road quicker. Of course, we will still do a case evaluation to make sure there is no legal justification to fight for a dismissal on the spot, but assuming that is not the case, we almost always can work out a deal for the minimum penalty possible.
What about a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing at the Westfield court?
When you enter the building, check in with the clerk magistrate’s office is through security to the left.
We have had hearings on the second floor in courtroom 3, but that location is not guaranteed. There are benches outside where you can wait to be called.
Clerk Magistrate’s hearings are not common with OUI cases except in the case of an accident, but we have defended many of these hearings for different types of charges.
You are not required to have a lawyer at a Clerk’s hearing, or even entitled to a public defender. But legal representation is absolutely in your best interest.
What about pretrials or trial sessions at the Westfield District Court?
Pretrial sessions as well as trial courtrooms are determined on any given day by availability and scheduling. Your lawyer will get you to the right room.
Is there any place to eat near the courthouse in Westfield?
There are a few places around town in Westfield. Dunkin donuts is right across the street.
Santiago Family restaurant is just around the corner serving Latin American and Spanish cuisine, and get’s great reviews on yelp, but it’s not open Monday or Tuesday.
Otherwise, there is Emma’s Everyday Gourmet for Italian and quite a few pizza places. Clemenza’s Brick Oven is the best pizza choice.