Four inmates from Middlesex County Jail sat quietly in a
courtroom jury box on a recent afternoon, waiting to face
the judge. One by one they stood up, rejected the
prosecutor’s plea offers and requested trials.
Unable to hide his frustration, Superior Court Judge
Bradley Ferencz turned to the criminal case manager and
the two looked over his trial calendar.
It was booked solid through October. But these inmates
had been languishing in jail and with just six criminal
court judges assigned full time to the county, Ferencz was
out of options.
"They have to go first," the judge said, meaning the
jailed defendants would jump ahead of those with
scheduled trials who were out on bail.
"We need more judges," one defense attorney told the
judge.
The lament has become a mantra.
