Joe Bernard

About Joe Bernard

My name is Joe Bernard. I have practiced in Western Massachusetts for over 20 years and currently reside in Belchertown, Massachusetts. I started out in the District Attorney’s Office for approximately four years and for the last eighteen years have been doing a great deal of criminal defense. I’ve tried well over three hundred cases in the Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin County Superior Courts, as well as district courts across western Massachusetts. For over twelve years I was a member of the CJA panel here in Western Massachusetts.More recently, over the last 2 1/2 years I have been challenging trial courts in Western Massachusetts attempting to get a court order to obtain training on the Draeger 9510. I have had an ongoing dialogue with the Draeger company attempting to convince them that Massachusetts lawyers need and deserve training on this machine. In July 2015 the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts agreed and in Commonwealth v. Nunes ordered that Massachusetts lawyers and their experts receive training on the Draeger 9510.I am one of the five lead lawyers in Commonwealth v. Evando Ananias et al. which is further exploring the Nunes decision and carving out new territory allowing attorneys to be able to better defend their clients in similar matters where a breath test was used. Since this challenge has gained momentum, I am now the only Attorney in Western Massachusetts who has received training from the Massachusetts State Police on how to properly give a breath test.Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time for a free case evaluation by utilizing the contact form below, clicking on any of my links or by calling my office directly at (413) I look forward to assisting you in whatever capacity I can.

Experience

1. Lecture and Author

   Massachusetts Bar Association

   Dec 2005 — Present · MA, US

   Throughout the course of the year Attorney Bernard lectures to lawyers and judges throughout Massachusetts. The topics include impaired operation litigation, breath testing, blood draws and various other legal issues.

Education

• Clark University

  Bachelor's degree, History

  1982 — 1986

• Western New England University

  Doctor of Law (JD), Law

  1987 — 1990