Anyone charged with a crime has a constitutional right to a lawyer, even if they cannot afford one.

But as the arraignment of a 46-year-old Boston man on Wednesday shows, in Massachusetts, that guarantee may not be so certain for the time being, due to attorneys’ fight for higher pay.

Elvis Haughton appeared in Boston Municipal Court’s Central branch Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges that he took a Boston Police officer’s gun and fired it during a scuffle, injuring himself. The incident on Tuesday morning near Massachusetts General Hospital led to an extensive police investigation and road closures on Cambridge Street and surrounding side roads.

Also, on Tuesday morning, bar advocates, or private lawyers who contract with the state to represent defendants without the funds to hire an attorney themselves, began refusing new cases, saying they are not paid enough to sustain their practices.

Bar advocates are paid $65 per hour in district court, but according to the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), after accounting for expenses such as office and out-of-pocket health and malpractice insurance, they effectively earn around $20 per hour — a rate they say makes it impossible to continue providing quality legal defense.

They are paid $85 per hour for Superior Court cases and $120 per hour when the defendant is charged with murder.

In comparison, bar advocates make $125 an hour in New Hampshire, $112 per hour in Rhode Island and $150 per hour in Maine.

CPCS, the state’s public defender agency, retains full-time staff attorneys and handles about 20% of cases where criminal defendants are provided with a court-appointed lawyer. Bar advocates handle the remaining 80%.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Haughton was arraigned without an attorney to represent him “due to the work stoppage.” He was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of a class C substance and resisting arrest.

A judge ordered Haughton to undergo a mental health evaluation. He was ordered held without bail until his dangerousness hearing on June 2.

BOSTON (WHDH) – The best of Boston Public Schools (BPS) was honored at Fenway Park.

33 valedictorians from high schools across the city were recognized for their academic achievements.

“We are a welcoming district that loves and receives all students, and today was a testimony for those students and their families,” said Mary Skipper, Superintendent of BPS.

7’s own Amaka Ubaka emceed the event.

Students say they are striving to make the world a better place for the next generation.

“I think it’s bigger than myself. I think it’s about the youth, it’s about inspiring black and brown students all across the world, especially in Boston, that we can be in spaces where we’re sometimes excluded from. That we’re here and we’re the new leaders,” said Leah Pires, valedictorian.

Honorees were presented with certificates and even got to pose with Red Sox World Series trophies.

Superintendent Skipper says the valedictorians were superstars in more ways than one.

“They might be working full time, they may be a caretaker for their family, they are athletes playing two or three sports. they are taking lots of APs and early college. They are doing everything that they possibly can and today it showed because they are the best in their school and their class,” said Skipper.

The top graduates are thankful for how Boston Public Schools supported them throughout their journey.

“Boston Public Schools is the strongest, the best. We have the best educators, the leaders, we have the best opportunities. I just say every single time that BPS did it for me,” said Pires.

One valedictorian had some advice for the next generation.

“Spend your time well. Don’t be scared to try things,” said Shawn Zheng, valedictorian.

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The dream of virtually any high school baseball player in Massachusetts is to get an opportunity to compete at the next level.

Dan Donato is hoping to make some of those dreams come true.

For the third straight year, Donato has spearheaded the New England Elite 100 Showcase, designed for high school baseball players looking to get noticed by college coaches at all levels. The two-day event will take place at Boston College on June 4-5.

“The numbers are coming in but we appear to be 15 ahead of last year’s pace,” said Donato, the head baseball coach at No. 1-ranked Dexter Southfield. “I think we’ve gotten to the point where this event is a must for any kids who want to play in college.”

A two-sport standout at Catholic Memorial, Donato went on to play hockey and baseball at Boston University. Following college, Donato had a minor league career in both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays organizations, getting as high as Triple-A.

In his travels as a player and later as a coach, Donato noticed a growing number of baseball camps and clinics popping up in the south. He often wondered why a similar format couldn’t work in the north, leading to the creation of the New England Elite 100 Showcase.

“You would go to places like Georgia and see these great showcases,” Donato said. “The reality of the situation is that 90 percent of the kids who play high school baseball around here are likely going to play college baseball somewhere in New England.”

The early success of the camp has allowed Donato to bring in some of the top local high school coaches to help run things. Among those on the staff include Rick Forestiere, who climbed on board from Day 1; Jonathan Pollard (Austin Prep); David Cunningham (Belmont Hill); David Cataruzolo (Roxbury Latin); and former major leaguer Matt Duffy, a group which has more than 100 years of coaching under their collective belts.

The first day serves as a showcase for kids to display their talents in a variety of drills. The next day will consist of a series of games in which every kid is guaranteed a minimum of three at-bats a game and every pitcher would get an opportunity to throw 20-30 pitches. Donato thinks this is more than sufficient for a player to showcase his skills in front of a bevy of coaches from the likes of Harvard, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northeastern, Bryant, as well as Saint Anselm and the NESCAC.

“This is a great opportunity for kids who want to play college baseball to be able to have that chance to do it locally,” Donato said. “They’re going to get a chance to be seen by coaches from Division 1, 2 and 3. No matter what you are as an athlete, there is a home for anyone who wants to play college baseball.

“All I am trying to do here is help kids achieve their dreams of playing at the next level. It’s hard enough to play college baseball and it’s become even harder because of the transfer portals. I’ve coached for 25 years and I just want to do anything possible to help kids get to the next level whatever it happens to be for them.”

For further information, contact Tim Fledderjohn at fledd@premierfootballconsulting.com