The Somerville City Council recently passed a resolution in support of state legislation aimed at ensuring fair access to court proceedings. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

The Somerville City Council approved a resolution supporting legislation at the Massachusetts State House, which aims to protect and ensure free and equal access to the court system and preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings.

State Sen. Lydia Edwards and State Rep. Christine Barber, D-Somerville, testified at the Somerville City Council meeting on March 12 to petition support for Senate Bill 2975 that would protect access to justice and prevent arrests made by federal immigration agents at courthouses unless a judicial warrant is obtained.

“What’s happening in this country is we are undermining the right of due process,” said Ward 1 City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, lead sponsor of the resolution.

Senate Bill 2975, which is known as “An Act protecting access to justice,” will prevent the disruption of judicial proceedings.

“This is really common sense to me,” said McLaughlin. “And I hope it’s common sense to the Commonwealth.”

Somerville’s resolution in support of the Senate bill states in the preamble that “access to the courts is a fundamental component of a fair and functioning justice system, and individuals must be able to attend court proceedings without fear of civil arrest that may deter participation in the judicial process.”

Edwards thanked the Somerville City Council for being active in the “collective fight for justice.”

Hundreds of individuals were arrested at courthouses last year, explained Edwards, and consequently, there’s a level of fear associated with attending court. This emergency law will preserve public peace and safety, aiming to restore the integrity of judicial proceedings.

“Communities like Somerville benefit when residents feel confident that they can engage with the justice system without intimidation or barriers that prevent access to legal remedies,” according to Somerville’s resolution.

“They are arresting them on a civil matter,” said Edwards. “They are interrupting criminal trials, taking the witness off the stand, taking the defendant in the middle of the trial…they are preventing victims of domestic violence, children, people from coming forward. It’s disgusting.”

The Senate bill requires a judicial warrant or judicial order issued by a magistrate to make a civil arrest at a Massachusetts courthouse, an improvement in protection over the administrative warrant. But there are some exceptions, like if the individual has been convicted of murder in the first degree.

Additionally, the bill would ensure that victims, witnesses, litigants, or family members are allowed to safely travel to and from court, she explained.

“Our courts are our business,” Edwards said. “And how people have access to them will be determined by our constitution and our understanding of due process and human dignity.”

Masks or face coverings would not be allowed by local, state or federal law enforcement personnel, unless required for medical, chemical or biological emergencies, according to the senate bill.

“It’s moments like this that we reach out to our municipal partners and say, ‘please stand up and stand with us,” said Edwards.

Barber, a co-sponsor of the Senate bill, thanked Edwards for her leadership and spoke to the “trauma” felt across the country and in the Somerville community.

There were some 600 ICE arrests at Massachusetts courthouses in 2025, which is a threefold increase, according to Barber.

“Access to courts is not a privilege; it is the cornerstone of our democracy,” said Barber, who testified after Edwards at the Somerville City Council meeting.

Recently, Barber engaged in conversation with a domestic violence organization about survivors who aren’t seeking protective orders because they fear going to court.

“This is real, and it is happening in our community,” she said. “Witnesses are afraid to testify.”

The bill is “focused” and “enforceable,” explained Barber. “No civil arrest can happen at a courthouse without a judicial warrant. And law enforcement must identify themselves and state their purpose.”

Co-sponsor of the resolution, Ward 4 City Councilor Jesse Clingan, said that the legislation is in line with the values of Somerville’s Welcoming City ordinance.

“We need to act now as a state to address this,” said Clingan. “I’m proud, as was mentioned, to be the first city who is supporting this, locally here, for this particular senate bill.”