Judges must OK gun court move

LYNN – District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said “it makes sense” to move a special court session aimed at accelerating firearms prosecutions from Peabody District Court to Lynn.He said moving gun court from Peabody Square to Essex Street will bring the sessions closer to the police officers and witnesses to firearms crimes who are instrumental in prosecuting cases.Blodgett worked with Judge Robert Brennan and state Trial Court officials, as well as police chiefs to launch gun court two and a half years ago in Peabody.Space restrictions have thwarted plans to move the session to Lynn District Court, but Blodgett said renewed discussions between Brennan and Presiding Justice Michael Lauranzano could put the move into motion.The court’s objective is to “fast track” illegal firearms cases in 120 days, with the goal of getting guns off local streets and defendants behind bars on firearms convictions.”Certain elements are staying out of Lynn. The bad guys know not to do something here because if you are caught you are going to gun court,” Blodgett said.Lynn saw a rash of firearms violence through the first half of this year that abated in the summer when police intensified a crackdown on violent crime. A Lynn man shot to death on Aug. 27 was the subject of one of the first firearms cases brought into gun court.Blodgett said the current caseload is eight to 10 cases.”We’re on the cutting edge of resolving cases. They are not languishing in court. There is confidence that defendants will get their day in court and people know the cases are going to get resolved,” Blodgett said.Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley launched a Boston area gun court at roughly the same time as its North Shore counterpart.In the wake of the court’s formation, Conley called for an end to restrictions that bar federal law enforcement agencies from sharing information that would help state and local police to trace guns used in local crimes back to dealers or past owners outside of their own jurisdiction.