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Category Archives: Courts & Law

David Hodge

Court Won’t Halt Courthouse Selection, but Leaves Case with Plenty of Oxygen…

The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAMM) and Liberty Junction, the developer selected to build the new courthouse in Springfield, can keep talking—and negotiating. That was the ruling from Superior Court Judge David Hodge, who refused to enjoin the process, as the plaintiffs in a suit had requested.

As skeptical as the ruling was, it might not have gone far enough to given DCAMM and Liberty Junction confidence the case is ending soon.

Hampden Superior Court

First Round of Springfield Courthouse Lawsuit Comes to a Head, but the Battlefield Has Grown…

Since selecting the site for the new Springfield Regional Justice Center, the Commonwealth has had a fight on two fronts. In the public relations war, the Commonwealth has been releasing more information about the bid and process that led to the selected developer,

Then there is the lawsuit unsuccessful bidders USPB JV, LLC and Springfield Tower, LLC have filed. They allege Barros’ involvement tainted the bid.

Prettyman Courthouse

Appeals Court Ruling Offers Hope to Climate Grants, but a Clock is Ticking…

More than four months after oral arguments, a panel of federal judges have effectively revived a suit that seeks to restore the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change (ECJCC) grant program. Last year Springfield and a motley band of municipalities and nonprofits sued the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally terminating the program.

It came from DOJ

DOJ Sues Mass for Refusing to Help Immigration Feds Operate in Secret…

In a spasm of suits, the United States Department of Justice challenged four states’ policies that blocked the feds’ use of confidential license plates. Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the Registry of Motor Vehicles would not provide Immigration & Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection with civilian plates to conceal their civil immigration operations.

Prettyman Courthouse

Appeal Is Just One Stop on the Long Path to Saving Springfield’s Climate Grant…

WASHINGTON—Fifteen months after Springfield formally accepted its Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change (ECJCC) grant, it and several cities and environmental groups were fighting to keep the program alive. Far from 36 Court Street, in a wood-paneled courtroom between the Capitol and the White House, a motley crew of grantees urged a federal appeals court to reverse a lower court’s dismissal that had doomed an effort to revive the ECJCC program.

Springfield Police

Springfield and Feds Move to Close the Lid on Pearl Street Oversight…

Just over four years after the City of Springfield, the Springfield Police Department and the federal government reached a court-monitored settlement, the pact may be coming to an end. Springfield and the feds jointly have filed a motion to terminate the agreement. If the court agrees, it will end a saga that has cast a pall over Pearl Street and City Hall for years.

Prettyman Courthouse

Climate Grant Showdown for Springfield and Its Allies Reaches Appeals Court…

The City of Springfield, several fellow municipalities and environmental groups will try to convince a Washington appeals court on Monday to revive a lawsuit to restore climate grants the Environmental Protection Agency illegally eliminated. Springfield was one of the first recipients of the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant (ECJBG) program. Yet, the city like many others lost its grant amid the chaos of the Trump administration’s slashing last year.

US Supreme Court

Bay State Pols Welcome SCOTUS’ Thumping of Trump’s Tariffs…

There were four concurring opinions, two dissents, and a majority opinion that had only three votes in parts. Nevertheless, a solid six justices said Trump lacked the power to impose these tariffs. The Bay State’s electeds welcomed the ruling and blasted Trump for instituting them in the first place.