Rated a Super Lawyer, James R. Goodhines has managed over 3,000 cases, including over 100 jury trials, in the Hampden County courts. He is highly experienced and effective in trying all major Massachusetts felonies, including drug, firearm, and vehicular injury and homicide cases. He has successfully defended clients against these and other types of charges since going into private practice in 2011.

Jim has always strongly believed that every person faced with criminal charges or investigation deserves effective counsel and a fair trial. In fact, our U.S. and Massachusetts Constitutions demand it. That is why Jim is a member of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services' (CPCS) Hampden County Lawyers for Justice program. After almost two decades in the District Attorney's Office, Jim has an intimate understanding of the limitations to which state or federal prosecutors must adhere when building their cases. In his earlier work with the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council, he trained law enforcement personnel on Massachusetts and federal laws regarding collection of evidence and other matters of critical importance to a successful defense. So once on your case, he can work to ensure that law enforcement follows these rules and regulations during their investigation of the crimes for which you stand accused.

Admitted to the bars of each of Massachusetts; United States District Court, District of Massachusetts; and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Jim can take your case or appeal and vigorously defend you all the way to the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts or the United States Supreme Court if necessary.

Jim is a 1995 graduate of Western New England College School of Law. A long time practitioner, he has also been teaching since almost the start of his career -- at the University of Connecticut Law School teaching oral advocacy, and at both his alma mater and Bay Path College's Criminal Justice Department, teaching criminal law and justice classes.

Evaluation by other lawyers is a very meaningful measure of an attorney's competence and dependability. Jim maintains a Martindale-Hubbell® BV Distinguished® peer rating, which means that Jim combines strong legal skills with trustworthiness -- two of the characteristics you most want in your lawyer. A rating of BV Distinguished is "a widely respected mark of achievement, differentiating a lawyer from his or her competition."

Jim is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Hampden County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Jim lives in Western Massachusetts with his family. He has for many years contributed his time and considerable expertise to benefit his community. There he has served as a commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department and the Community Preservation Commission, and as a youth coach of girls' and boys' soccer, basketball and baseball, among other positions. He has also been a strong leader in support of the public school system in his community, including a long tenure as executive board member and co-chair of the local foundation that spearheads fundraising efforts in support of the schools.

Attorney Jacob T. Winniman serves as a Bar Advocate with the Hampden County Lawyers for Justice, representing people who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Passionate about defense work and public service, Attorney Winniman believes strongly that every person is entitled to zealous advocacy in the face of criminal accusations from the state.

Attorney Winniman majored in criminal justice at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he received my Bachelor of Arts. He received his Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law, graduating cum laude, with a concentration in criminal law. Winneman was the Senior Note Editor for Volume 40 of the Western New England Law Review.

While in law school, Winniman had the privilege of working as a student law clerk for the Hon. Alfred V. Covello at the United States District Court for Connecticut in Hartford, as well as for the Hon. Mark G. Mastroianni at the United States District Court for Massachusetts in Springfield, and the Hon. Robert G. Fields at the Western Housing Court in Springfield. He also worked as a Student Assistant District Attorney pursuant to SJC Rule 3:03, at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office in Northampton and Belchertown. Born and raised in western Massachusetts, and he is proud to live and serve in this community.

Michelle Dame graduated from Western New England University in 2011 with a degree in criminal justice. She was a member of the University’s 3+3 law program and graduated magna cum laude from the School of Law in 2013.

She began working for Goodhines Law Offices in 2013. She was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 2013 and currently handles criminal cases in both the district and superior courts in Hampden County, as well as post-conviction cases across the state.