On Friday, April 7, Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey will
host the opening ceremony of the Franklin County Justice Center. In
addition to Chief Justice Carey, speakers will include Lieutenant
Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg, Trial
Court Administrator Harry Spence, Commissioner of the Division of
Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Carol Gladstone,
Representative Stephen Kulik of the 1st Franklin District,
Representative Paul Mark of the 2nd Berkshire District,
Representative Susannah Whipps of the 2nd Franklin District,
Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, Franklin County
Bar Association Chair John Stobierski, and Greenfield District
Court First Justice William F. Mazanec. Franklin County Register of
Probate John F. Merrigan will deliver welcoming remarks.
The renovation of the Franklin County Justice Center began in 2014.
The new courthouse incorporates the historic 1932 façade of the
original building with a 104,000 square foot, three-story addition.
The Justice Center's six courtrooms include updated technological
capabilities to allow for hearings to be conducted by video
conference and newly installed recording equipment for court
proceedings. The courthouse will also offer WiFi for visitors. The
expanded building houses five court departments: Juvenile,
Superior, District, Housing, and Probate and Family Courts, as well
as the Law Library, Court Service Center, and Registry of
Deeds.
WHERE:
Franklin County Justice Center
43 Hope Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
WHEN:
Friday, April 7, 2017
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants will succeed
retiring Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Geraldine Hines
as co-chair of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission, the
court announced this week. Chief Justice Gants had previously
co-chaired the Commission from 2010 to 2015.
"We look forward to welcoming back Chief Justice Gants as
co-chair of the Commission," said Commission co-chair Susan M.
Finegan, of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. "He
has been a national leader on access to justice issues for many
years, and we are honored to have him serve in this role
again."
The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission was established
by order of the Supreme Judicial Court to provide leadership,
vision and coordination in the search for equal justice for all
persons in the Commonwealth. The Commission's membership includes
representatives from the court system, legal aid organizations, bar
associations, social service agencies, the private bar, law
schools, businesses, and clients, working together to promote equal
access to justice.
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Hines is stepping down this
summer after having served on the bench for 16 years, first on the
Superior Court and then on the Appeals Court before she was
appointed to the Supreme Judicial Court in 2014 by Governor Deval
Patrick. Before becoming a judge, Justice Hines practiced as
an attorney for three decades, during which she litigated many
civil rights cases.
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Gants said of Justice Hines
that she "has devoted her entire life to speaking truth to power on
behalf of people who have not been heard, and we have been very
fortunate to benefit from her wisdom, experience, and leadership at
the helm of the Access to Justice Commission."
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Gants will assume Justice
Hines' duties as Commission Co-Chair later this month.
After an 11-year tenure on the Superior Court, Chief Justice
Gants was appointed to the Supreme Judicial Court as an Associate
Justice in 2009 and was sworn in as Chief Justice by Governor
Patrick in 2014.