Governor Maura Healey has signed legislation that increases the pay for bar advocates by 20-dollars an hour.
The legislature approved the pay increase in an effort to put an end to the work stoppage by the bar advocates, who represent criminal defendants who cannot afford lawyers.
The bill raises bar advocate pay by ten-dollars an hour immediately, and another ten-dollars an hour next year.
More than 100 cases have been dismissed in the state in recent weeks because of a lack of bar advocates.
It's unclear if the raise will bring the lawyers back to work.
(Photo: John Baibak)