For over twenty years, Jane Peachy has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to criminal defense and fighting for the rights of the accused. She brings a combination of deep experience, bold advocacy, creativity, and compassion to each and every case. She has handled hundreds of criminal cases in both state and federal court over the course of her career.

Attorney Peachy began her career as a public defender in Brockton, where she handled felony trials in district and superior courts. Before leaving the public defender office, she received favorable verdicts in sixteen out of her last eighteen trials.

In 2011, Attorney Peachy went to the Federal Public Defender Office where she continued to represent indigent clients in criminal cases of all types. She became the senior litigator in that office in 2020 and handled some of the most serious cases in the office, including death penalty eligible cases.

Over the years, Attorney Peachy has emerged as a leader in the criminal defense field. She has spoken at numerous trainings for criminal defense practitioners. She is part of the federal court’s Restorative Justice committee and has served on the federal court’s e-discovery committee. Through her position on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), she helped develop a paid summer internship program for law students interested in pursuing careers in criminal defense. As the current president of MACDL, Attorney Peachy frequently speaks on behalf of the criminal defense bar and advocates for meaningful change in our criminal legal system.

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

First Circuit Court of Appeals

Education

Northeastern University School of Law, J.D.

Dartmouth College, B.A.

Accomplishments

Obtained acquittal after jury trial in federal court for client accused of assaulting an immigration officer

Obtained acquittal after jury trial in federal court for client charged with conspiracy to commit robbery

Successfully litigated motion for new trial in federal court for client who had been convicted of fraud offenses after jury trial and obtained dismissal of all charges

Avoided 15-year mandatory minimum sentence for client in federal court by successfully arguing that client’s prior conviction for distribution of cocaine was not legally sufficient for purposes of enhanced sentence

Assisted numerous clients in avoiding prison sentences for federal offenses

Professional Activities

President, Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL)

Board Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel for the District of Massachusetts

Board Member, Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty Fund

Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)

Member, Federal Bar Association

Member, Massachusetts Bar Association

Member, Dartmouth Lawyers Association

Volunteer Lawyer, MACDL Habeas Project (representing individuals unlawfully detained by ICE)

Awards

Circle of Excellence, Top Women in Law, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2022

Top Women in Law, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2019