Criminal Defense

Attorney Tavilla has represented clients facing criminal charges at all levels within the Massachusetts Court system, including the District Court Department, Boston Municipal Court, Superior Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court, and the Supreme Judicial Court.  She is also licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the First District of Massachusetts.

TRIAL WORK

Attorney Tavilla maintains geographical dexterity in her criminal practice, having represented clients in various counties, including Suffolk, Essex. Middlesex, Norfolk, Barnstable, Plymouth and Worcester, from arraignment, bail and pretrial hearings, through to trial and/or disposition.

Her range of practice in criminal defense includes misdemeanor and felony offenses, such as:

• Controlled Substance Cases (all Classes), Possession, Distribution and Trafficking Charges of all Classes of Controlled Substances
  

• Sexual Assault Cases and related SORB (Sexual Offender Registry Board) hearings
  

• OUI’s (Operating while under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs)
  

• Assault and Battery (with aggravating circumstances, such as Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault with Intent to Kill)
  

• Armed Robbery 
  

• Larceny
  

• Breaking and Entering

APPELLATE WORK

Attorney Tavilla has handled full appeals before both the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.  Appeals are petitions for review to a higher court following a guilty verdict in the trial court.  These involve researching, drafting and filing legal briefs outlining any errors of law or constitutional infringements of her client’s rights committed during the trial process.  This is typically followed by oral argument before the attendant appellate court.

POST-CONVICTION RELIEF

Attorney Tavilla has pursued remedies for her criminal clients in the form of post-conviction relief where a similar defect in the proceedings occurred in the trial court, but where the case was resolved in the absence of a trial before a judge or jury, such as by the defendant entering a plea of guilty.  In such instances, Attorney Tavilla has filed briefs and been granted hearings in connection with Motions to Vacate Judgment and Motions for a New Trial.  In both scenarios, Attorney Tavilla has been successful in reopening the proceedings, which has allowed for subsequent acquittals, pleas to lesser charges, and collaterally minimizing and/or terminating connected immigration problems.  

IMMIGRATION

She has handled all aspects of Removal Proceedings, ranging from detention hearings to trials on the merits.  These often times involve collateral challenges to related criminal convictions, which may involve post-conviction relief petitions described above.  

Attorney Tavilla has experience with the compilation and filing of other immigration petitions, including:

• Applications for Naturalization (Obtaining Citizenship)

• Petitions for Legal Permanent Residents (Green Cards)

• Family-Based Immigration Petitions

• Employment-Based Immigration Petitions

• Adjustments of Status

• Applications for Political Asylum

• Nonimmigrant Visas

• Employment Authorizations

DEPORTATION

She has handled all aspects of Removal Proceedings, ranging from detention hearings to trials on the merits.  These often times involve collateral challenges to related criminal convictions, which may involve post-conviction relief petitions described above.  

Family Law

Attorney Tavilla handles all aspects of matrimonial law matters, including:

• Divorce

• Custody & Child Support 

• Modification of Existing Divorce, Custody, Child and/or Spousal Support Orders 
  

In addition, she has experience with the corollaries that frequently attend these proceedings, including restraining orders, or protective orders (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 209A orders) and DCF (Department of Children and Families, formerly DSS, Department of Social Services) proceedings.