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Kafker nominated for
Appeal Court Chief
"I think he's got all the right
tools needed for this position."
MBA Chief Legal Counsel and
Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy, State House
News Service, June 30
Gov. Charlie Baker nominated Appeals
Court Judge Scott L. Kafker as the court's new chief justice on
June 30. Kafker would fill the vacancy being created by the
retirement of Chief Justice Phillip G. Rapoza. Healy predicted
Kafker's nomination would go over well with the Legislature and the
24 other members of the Appeal Court bench and praised Kafker
as "one of the brightest constitutional scholars on the court" who
also has a "great handle" on administration functions.
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State adjusts attorney screening
process at prisons
"The new
policy indicates that the Executive Office of Public Safety and
Security has made this issue a priority and the new procedures
ensure the personal privacy of attorneys while also affording DOC
staff assurance of their safety."
MBA President Marsha V.
Kazarosian, State House News Service,
June 30
This week, the Executive Office of Public Safety released new
procedures regarding attorney searches in Department of Correction
facilities. The broad and invasive searches, particularly of women,
had been an ongoing concern in the legal community for the last 30
years. The new regulations "strike an improved balance between
prison security and personal privacy."
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Physical discipline of children
ruling
"The court used
unequivocal language that there is a strong need for parents to
assert some guidance and direction over their children."
MBA Chief Legal Counsel and
Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy, Boston Globe, June 25
Healy was quoted in a story about the Massachusetts Supreme
Judicial Court's recent ruling, where, for the first time, the
court recognized a "parental privilege defense." Parents may not be
held criminally liable for the use of "reasonable" force in
disciplining their children. Healy told the Globe that
"the decision carefully balanced parents' constitutional right to
raise their children as they see fit with the need to protect them
against abuse." Healy was also quoted on MassLive.
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