A Concord District Court judge denied a defense request for police-superintendent communications in the criminal case against John Grace, accused of placing scarecrows criticizing Superintendent Laurie Hunter.

Judge Maureen McManus rejected the request at a Wednesday, Aug. 19 hearing, where prosecutor Nick Martin said discovery is "substantially complete," The Concord Bridge reported. Attorneys are expected back in court later in September to address remaining motions. A trial date could follow.

Grace, 56, was charged in November 2025 with one misdemeanor count of violating a harassment prevention order Hunter holds against him. Police allege he placed scarecrows bearing messages such as "Fire liar Hunter" and "The hatchet for Hunter" around town.

Defense attorney George King has not acknowledged that Grace placed the signs. He argues the messages were protected free speech advocating the dismissal of a public official.

King had sought additional written correspondence between Hunter and Concord Police Chief Thomas Mulcahy beyond what standard discovery produced. He acknowledged at the Aug. 19 hearing that he had already received a significant number of emails between the two through normal channels.

"Obviously, I disagree with the ruling," King told the court.

He said he plans to file a motion asking McManus to reconsider.

The rejected request had drawn sharp opposition. At a July 6 hearing, King argued he needed the records to understand how Concord police became involved in what he called a political dispute. Concord Public Schools attorney Katie Mulligan filed a 12-page response calling the request a "fishing expedition" and accusing Grace of using the court system to intimidate and harass Hunter.

A separate prosecution motion seeking to compel Grace to turn over his phone passcode, filed in January 2026, also remains pending with no ruling.

The case has a tangled history. Hunter testified for roughly 40 minutes in Westborough District Court in May 2026, when Judge Michael Welsh extended the harassment prevention order against Grace. Welsh called the scarecrows "political."

Grace was previously acquitted of all charges in a separate case involving Hunter. The harassment prevention order was later extended in May 2025.

No specific date has been announced for the next court appearance in September.