You’ll find our Worcester County DUI/OUI/DWI lawyers representing drunk driving cases in the following Massachusetts communities:

Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, Sterling, West Boylston, Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Webster, Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Spencer, Warren, West Brookfield, Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Petersham, Westminster, Holden, Princeton, Leominster, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Milford, Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, Grafton, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Westborough, Ashburnham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Winchendon, Auburn, Millbury, Worchester,

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If you’ve recently been arrested and charged with OUI in Worcester County, Massachusetts, you’re not alone. This happens to a lot of people who are understandably concerned with how it will affect their jobs, their families, and their reputation. But you don’t have to face the charges alone, either

Attorney James Milligan is an award-winning lawyer specialized 100% in Massachusetts OUI / DUI defense, and he’s ready to get your case started off on the right foot. Work with our Worcester OUI defense firm to leverage our intimate familiarity with the Worcester County court system and long track record of successful results for clients in the Worcester area.

Our Worcester County DUI law firm deals with cases like:

  • First Offense DUI: Getting arrested for OUI doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. People from all walks of life are charged with OUI, and most are good folks who have taken a risk they now regret or fell victim to a misunderstanding. Even the police can make a mistake. Don’t give up. Attorney James Milligan is highly experienced and board certified in Worcester OUI / DUI defense. With the right guidance and a staunch defender in your corner, you’ll be able to make it through this challenging experience and continue with your life. Nearly all first offenses do not end in time served in jail.
  • Second Offense DUI: Like a first offense, your second OUI is a misdemeanor in the state of Massachusetts. It would only become a felony if your case involves serious injuries or death. The vast majority of second OUI cases are able to be resolved without jail time whether or not you win in court. This is because Massachusetts allows an alternative sentencing guideline that include a 14-day inpatient stay at an alcohol treatment facility and probation rather than jail.
  • Third Offense DUI: The consequences for a third OUI in Massachusetts can be serious, since the charge is now a felony and there is no eligibility for the lenient alternative sentences offered to first and second offenders. Conviction would include a mandatory minimum of 150 days served in jail. But don’t lose hope. You are innocent until proven guilty and have every right to hold the county of Worcester to the high standard of proof defined in the law. Assert your rights and fight the case in court with an experienced, board-certified Worcester lawyer at your side.
  • Fourth Offense DUI: Anyone facing a felony fourth OUI conviction in Worcester County is at risk of receiving a mandatory jail sentence and a 10-year license suspension. The stakes are high, but remember that your prior offenses can never be used against you or even mentioned to the jury at trial. You will have the same fair chance to prove your innocence as any first offender. The mandatory jail sentence means there’s little reason to plead / admit to the charge. Your best option will be to defend your rights in court with a seasoned Worcester OUI attorney by your side.

Licensing Issues Related to DUI:

  • Breathalyzer Defense Cases: According to the law, anyone driving a car on a Massachusetts road has “implied consent” to the chemical analysis of their breath or blood for the presence of alcohol. Should you fail this test with a BAC reading of 0.08% or higher, you’ll lose your license for 30 days and be charged with OUI. You’re within your rights to refuse the test (and prevent the state from collecting evidence that could only be used against you), but doing so results in an automatic administrative license suspension of 180 days for a first offender and multiple years for repeat offenders.
  • Hardship or “Cinderella” Licenses: This is a license that is time-restricted (generally 12 hours a day, including periods you’d need to commute to work). No hardship licenses can be granted during the automatic RMV-imposed license suspensions for refusing or failing the breathalyzer test. However, a first offender that pleas/admits to the OUI and is enrolled in a First Offender’s Alcohol Education Program is eligible to apply immediately. Hardship licenses are typically only accessible after a set portion of your court-imposed Worcester DUI suspension (a part of your sentence for conviction) has been served.

We serve the following Worcester County courthouses:

Clinton District Court
300 Boylston Street
Clinton, MA 01510
Clinton District Court website and additional information
Directions to Clinton District Court in Worcester County

Dudley District Court
279 West Main Street
Dudley, MA 01571
Fall River District Courthouse website and additional information
Directions to Dudley District Court in Worcester County

East Brookfield District Court
544 East Main Street
East Brookfield, MA 01515
East Brookfield District Court website and additional information
Directions to East Brookfield District Court in Worcester County

Fitchburg District Court
108 Matthews Street
Gardner, MA 01440
Fitchburg District Court website and additional information
Directions to Fitchburg District Court in Worcester County

Gardner District Court
108 Boylston Street
Gardner, MA 01440
Gardner District Court website and additional information
Directions to Gardner District Court in Worcester County

Leominster District Court
25 School Street
Leominster, MA 01453
Leominster District Courthouse website and additional information
Directions to Leominster District Court in Worcester County

Milford District Court
161 West Street
Milford, MA 01757
Milford District Court website and additional information
Directions to Milford District Court in Worcester County

Uxbridge District Court
261 South Main Street
Uxbridge, MA 01569
Uxbridge District Court website and additional information
Directions to Uxbridge District Court in Worcester County

Westborough District Court
186 Oak Street
Westborough, MA 01581
Leominster District Courthouse website and additional information
Directions to Westborough District Court in Worcester County

Winchendon District Court
108 Matthews Street
Gardner, MA 01440
Winchendon District Court website and additional information
Directions to Winchendon District Court in Worcester County

Worcester District Court
225 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Uxbridge District Court website and additional information
Directions to Worcester District Court in Worcester County

FAQs: Worcester County DUI Defense

Do I Have to Find a Local Worcester Attorney to Defend Me in Worcester County?
It’s highly recommended, but not legally required. A local attorney that’s well-versed with the Worcester court system and familiar with the individuals that are likely to handle your case can give you several advantages. Attorneys that have little to no experience in Worcester will not have the same foreknowledge of the tendencies and perspectives of local judges or how the courts in the region have historically treated certain sorts of evidence or legal questions.

Also, a local Worcester OUI lawyer can easily come to you, saving you the hassle during any breath-test-related license suspension (which would occur before you go to court).

Where Do I Go For My OUI / DUI Trial in Worcester?
You will not be able to decide which court takes your case. Each Massachusetts county includes a number of district courts that hear trials for criminal cases such as OUI. Should you live in one county, but get charged with OUI in another, know that the trial will occur where the charges are brought against you — not where you live. This matters because you may not have a license or be able to drive yourself. Take care to arrange for transportation in advance.

There are eleven local courts in Worcester County that take OUI cases and handle all charges brought in the following areas: Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, Sterling, West Boylston, Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Webster, Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Spencer, Warren, West Brookfield, Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Petersham, Westminster, Holden, Princeton, Leominster, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Milford, Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Uxbridge, Grafton, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Westborough, Ashburnham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Winchendon, Auburn, Millbury, and Worcester.

  • Clinton District Court: Serving Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, Sterling, and West Boylston.
  • Dudley District Court: Serving Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Webster.
  • East Brookfield District Court: Serving Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Spencer, Warren, and West Brookfield.
  • Fitchburg District Court: Serving Fitchburg and Lunenburg.
  • Leominster District Court: Serving Holden, Princeton, and Leominster.
  • Gardner District Court: Serving Gardner, Hubbardston, Petersham, and Westminster.
  • Milford District Court: Serving Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Milford, and Bellingham.
  • Uxbridge District Court: Serving Blackstone, Douglas, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, and Uxbridge.
  • Westborough District Court: Serving Grafton, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, and Westborough.
  • Winchendon District Court: Serving Ashburnham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, and Winchendon.
  • Worcester District Court: Serving Auburn, Millbury, and Worcester.

    Are OUI laws in Worcester County different from other counties in Massachusetts?
    In short, no. Massachusetts OUI laws are the same across every town and county in the state — every county must follow the standards and rules laid out in Chapter 90, Section 24 of Massachusetts General Laws. The OUI laws in Massachusetts are also among the stricter DUI / OUI / DWI laws out of all the U.S. states.

    • However, every case is different, and so is every court. The Worcester County Court that handles your Worcester OUI case will have broad discretion in sentencing. Any attorney with deep familiarity in the local court system will be able to construct a strong defense that takes the demonstrated methodologies, preferences, and perspectives of the court into account.

    What Will Happen at My Arraignment?
    The arraignment is the first time you will appear in court after your arrest, generally within a few days. While sometimes seen as a formality, the arraignment is a critical step for your DUI defense. It’s also quite a simple process and nothing to be afraid of. The charges against you will be read, and a plea of Not Guilty will be entered on your behalf. Seek legal counsel beforehand, if possible, so that a professional eye can go over the facts of your case and help you understand your options — especially regarding the plea or a potential trial.

    How Do I Prepare to Fight My Case in a Worcester Court?
    There are likely to be months between the date of your arrest and the trial. Your first appearance in a Worcester County Court will be for the arraignment, where you assert your right to a trial with a plea of Not Guilty.

    Then the work begins on preparing an effective defense for your case. Your Worcester OUI attorney can help you go over all of the facts, documents, and details to decide upon the best course of action. Legal experts look for a lot of things while building a defense against OUI charges, such as:

  • No “reasonable suspicion” for the traffic stop that resulted in your arrest.
  • No “probable cause” to arrest you for OUI
  • Improper testing protocols (on sobriety tests, breathalyzer tests)
  • Any errors in the paperwork filed for the arrest
  • Any reason that the evidence against you should be disqualified from use in court
  • Expert testimony or scientific proof that shows the evidence against you is unreliable.

    • Once the defense is prepared, it’s important that you have ensured your schedule is clear for attendance at the trial and that your lawyer has filled you in on what to expect when it begins. Dress in clean, neat clothing and arrive on time. Worcester courts open at 8:30 AM and run until 4:30 PM. Be ready for your trial to start as early as 9:00 AM sharp. The trial could potentially take more than one day to resolve, so keep this in mind and let your attorney lead the process.

    Should you need representation for your OUI / DUI trial in a Worcester County Court, it’s best to get started immediately. Consult with an experienced WorcesterOUI attorney with over 150+ five star reviews and learn what to expect as you prepare your defense.

    About WorcesterCounty Certified Drunk Driving Defense Attorney James Milligan:

    As one of only 3 Board Certified OUI/DUI lawyers in Massachusetts, Attorney James Milligan is fiercely dedicated to representing and defending people who have been charged with drunk driving. Not only does he have over 20 years of experience, but he also handles more drunk driving cases in a year than most attorneys do in their entire career.

    Attorney Milligan is a member of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer (MACDL), and is a state-wide lecturer on Handling OUI Cases and Breath/Blood testing. He successfully resolves a high percentage of his Massachusetts drunk driving cases and has earned his reputation as one of the top-rated OUI attorneys in the state.

    Coming from Worcester County? Here’s how to find our Southshore Office: