About James R. Goodhines
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.
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