I am a natural problem solver and caretaker. For me, being a lawyer lets me fulfill these core drives every single day. Every case is a puzzle waiting to be solved. This is why I am so passionate about OUI defense — OUI law is expansive and complex, with nuances found in every set of circumstances. Whether you are facing criminal charges for the very first time, or whether the charges are more serious, I am here to not only provide you the very best defense but to guide you through this process with empathy and understanding.
I have had the wonderful privilege of working for The Law Offices of Joseph D. Bernard for the past four years. I represent OUI cases of the firm and manage client casework. In addition to representation in criminal matters, I also assist clients in obtaining their license from the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Board of Appeal.
Fighting for Change
I am often asked why I have chosen a career in criminal defense, and the answer is that every single defendant not only deserves but has a constitutional right to a fair process. A fair process means that we hold the prosecution to its burden, especially when a prosecutor attempts to use evidence that was not obtained properly under the law or is not scientifically reliable.
I have successfully fought for a fair process not only in our trial courts, at the Massachusetts Appeals Court. In Commonwealth v. Dennis, I convinced the Court that the blood test obtained by the government should have been excluded from evidence due to the lack of valid consent to the test from my client. This was a landmark decision in which the Court set out new higher standards of consent that must be met in order for evidence of a blood test to be admissible at trial in an OUI case.
I have also played a major supportive role in the consolidated litigation challenging the scientific reliability of breath testing in Commonwealth v. Ananias, which ultimately led to an eight-year exclusion of breath test evidence in Massachusetts. With Joe Bernard as the lead defense counsel, the defense uncovered the intentional misconduct of the Office of Alcohol Testing which caused the Commonwealth to reassess its entire infrastructure surrounding breathalyzers and their use in Massachusetts. Our work in this case has highlighted the importance of reliable forensic evidence in the courtroom, and it has impacted tens of thousands of defendants across the state for the better.
