On Wednesday, Aug. 6, Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed two
Massachusetts Bar Association backed bills into law. The MBA
strongly advocated for the two measures.
Voir dire
Chapter 254 of the Acts of 2014 will permit attorneys to
question jurors in civil and criminal trials throughout the
Superior Court, bringing Massachusetts in line with 39 other states
permitting attorney conducted voir dire. It would also permit
plaintiffs to specify an amount for damages. The bill gives
discretion to judges to impose reasonable limitations on the voir
dire process.
"I'm so grateful for the many fine and committed attorneys who
have been striving for this measure of fairness for decades," said
Massachusetts Bar Association President Douglas K. Sheff. "This
bill assures that all litigants are treated equally and helps to
remove unfair bias and misinformation from the selection of our
juries and the manner in which our cases are litigated."
Click here to view the bill.
Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings
Jurisdiction Act (UAGPPJ)
Chapter 225 of the Acts of 2014 clarifies adult guardianships
and conservatorships when multiple jurisdictions are involved.
Massachusetts now joins 38 other states that have adopted the
UAGPPJ.