Boston Municipal Court Chief Justice Tracy-Lee Lyons dismissed over 120 cases on Tuesday after a work stoppage among public defense attorneys in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Defendants were released from charges ranging from traffic violations to assault.
In Massachusetts, a judge is required under the Lavallee protocol to release a defendant from custody if they haven't had an attorney for seven days, and must drop a case if the defendant hasn't had an attorney for 45 days, according to CBS News.
"This case will be dismissed without prejudice," Lyons said for each case, and noted that all fines and fees would be waived. Lyons took the unprecedented action after hearing from Suffolk County public defenders that they were unable to find the defendants an attorney.
