Massachusetts lawmakers announced a deal Wednesday to fund pay raises for bar advocates.
Why it matters: The deal signals that the work stoppage that’s led to the dismissal of hundreds of cases could soon reach an end.
Driving the news: Lawmakers agreed to fund raises for private bar counsel by $20 an hour over two years.
What they’re saying: Robert McGovern, spokesperson for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, called the proposal a “critical starting point” and urged Gov. Maura Healey to sign the spending bill when it reaches her desk.
- “We will work to build on this momentum in future budgets to ensure that bar advocate compensation continues to reflect the value of their work,” he said in a statement.
- Mike Avitzur, Director of Government Relations at the Boston Bar Association, said the deal “should go a long way in addressing the chronic shortage of available defense counsel that’s straining our legal system.”
