Judge Gerald Alch (ret.)Judge Gerald Alch has led a stellar legal career, including more than 30 years as one of the nation’s leading criminal defense attorneys. He has represented clients in high profile federal cases such as the Watergate burglary and the court martial proceedings in the “My Lai” Vietnam incident, before his appointment as a Massachusetts District Court judge.

After retiring from the court in 2003, Judge Alch now serves as Of Counsel at Leeper & Associates, where he evaluates and advises on matters before the District and Superior courts.

Judge Alch graduated from Harvard College in 1954 and then, Boston University School of Law, where he was president of the student bar association and senior editor of the Boston University Law Review. He worked his way through school as a stand-up comedian.

After law school, he went into the U.S. Air Force, serving as a lieutenant and captain in the Judge Advocate General Department. There, he gained his first experience as a defense attorney in court-martial proceedings.

Judge Alch went onto represent criminal defendants in private practice for more than 30 years. From 1968-1974, he was the law partner of F. Lee Bailey.

Alch was the defense attorney for James McCord Jr. in the initial Watergate burglary trial in February 1973. He represented Captain Ernest L. Medina in general court martial proceedings in the “My Lai” Vietnam incident of 1971. Medina was acquitted of crimes the same year.

In 1990, Judge Alch was appointed Associate Justice of the Dedham District Court Department of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1998, he was sworn in as First Justice of the Dedham District Court.

After retiring from the bench, Judge Alch served as the first deputy general counsel of the MBTA from 2003-2006. He has served as an adjunct professor at New England School of Law and Suffolk University in Boston.

Judicial Appointment:
District Court (circuit), by Gov. Michael. S. Dukakis, 1990. Dedham District Court by Gov. William F. Weld, 1996

Professional Experience:
Over 25 years of experience in private practice.

Education:

  • Harvard University
  • Boston University School of Law

Adjunct Professor:
New England School of Law