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.
Notice of vacancies on the Supreme Judicial Court's Standing
Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil and Appellate
Procedure
The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court are soliciting
nominations of lawyers for appointment to the court's Standing
Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure.
There will be vacancies on the committee due to the expiration of
the terms of current members. This Committee advises the Court on
all issues and proposals relating to the Massachusetts Rules of
Civil Procedure and the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure.
The Committee reports to the Supreme Judicial Court Rules
Committee.
For these positions, the Justices are interested in nominations
or applications of experienced civil trial and appellate
practitioners with diverse backgrounds. Committee members will be
appointed to a three year term with the possibility of
reappointment to a second, consecutive term.
Members are expected to attend all meetings, the scheduling of
which varies with the Committee's work. Members also may be
assigned to subcommittees that meet more frequently than the full
Committee. Outside of meetings, members may do research and
drafting.
One page resumes with cover letters should be submitted by by
June 9 by mail at Supreme Judicial
Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA,
02108. If you have questions about the application process or the
position, please contact Mona or Christine Burak.
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Supreme Judicial Court announces new General Counsel to the Board
of Bar Overseers
The Supreme Judicial Court recently announced that the
Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers has named Joseph Berman, Esq.,
as its general counsel, effective May 8, 2017. He fills the
position following the retirement of Michael Fredrickson, Esq., who
served as general counsel since 1989.
"We're pleased that the Board has filled this important
position," said Supreme Judicial Court Justice Frank Gaziano, the
court's liaison to the Board. "Attorney Berman's significant
experience and deep knowledge of professional ethics will provide
valuable guidance to the Board as it adjudicates disciplinary
matters."
A well-regarded trial and appellate lawyer, Berman began his
career as a law clerk to the Hon. Richard P. Matsch of the United
States District Court for the District of Colorado. He was an
associate at a white collar criminal defense and commercial
litigation boutique law firm in Denver. In 1993, he joined the
Boston law firm of Posternak, Blankstein & Lund where his
practice focused on the defense of lawyers and other professionals
in malpractice and ethics cases. In 1998, Attorney Berman formed a
new law firm, Berman & Dowell, where he continued his work in
professional liability defense and expanded the practice to include
real estate, employment, and insurance litigation. In 2007, he
joined Looney & Grossman as a partner, where he continued his
practice until 2015 when he devoted his energies full time to
Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Berman has received honors for his legal work. Since 2010, he
has been named a Massachusetts "Super Lawyer" and was elected one
of the 100 Best Lawyers in New England in 2013. He has received the
President's Award from the Boston Bar Association for his pro bono
litigation, and was also honored by the New England Region of the
Anti-Defamation League with the David A. Rose Civil Rights Award
and the Krupp Young Leadership Award.
He is a frequent lecturer and writer in the areas of litigation
and trial practice. He has taught classes at the Boston Bar
Association and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. He is the
author of numerous articles and serves on the Supreme Judicial
Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct as
well as the Massachusetts Trial Court's Committee on Attorney
Berman is an active member of his community. He is a member of the
national and regional boards of the Anti-Defamation League. He is
also a director of the Associates of the Boston Public Library. He
sits on the Conservation Commission in his hometown of Weston. He
is a member of the American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar
Associations. He is also a member of the Association of
Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL), a national organization
of lawyers who focus on legal ethics.
Attorney Berman graduated from Dartmouth College cum
laude in 1986 and received his law degree, also cum
laude, from the University of Michigan in 1990. He and his
wife, Sharon, live in Weston and have two children.
The Board of Bar Overseers was established by the Supreme
Judicial Court in 1974 as an independent administrative body to
investigate and evaluate complaints against lawyers. The Board acts
as an administrative tribunal to consider disciplinary charges
brought by Bar Counsel. The activities of the board are governed by
Supreme Judicial Court Rule 4:01 and the Rules of the Board of Bar
Overseers. Although it is an official body subject to the
supervision of the Supreme Judicial Court, no public funds are
spent to support it. The board's revenues come solely from the
annual registration fees paid by lawyers.
Board of Bar Overseers members:
Donna Jalbert Patalano, Chair
Vincent J. Pisegna, Vice Chair
Andrew Ferrara
Erin K. Higgins
Thomas A. Kenefick, III
Francis P. Keough
David B. Krieger, M.D.
John J. Morrissey
Regina Roman
David A. Rountree
Kevin P. Scanlon
Michael G. Tracy
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Judicial Nominating Commission announces vacancies open for
applications
The following vacancies are open for applications. Please follow
these instructions for all judge,
clerk-magistrate and recorder of the Land Court applications.
District Court Clerk Magistrate - Deadline: June
19
Laurie N. Dornig
Orange District Court
(January 11, 2017)
Maryann Pozzessere
Westborough District Court
(January 13, 2017)
Juvenile Court Clerk Magistrate - Deadline: June
19
Bristol County Juvenile Court
Ronald C. Arruda
(December 26, 2014)
Probate and Family Court - Deadline: June
26
Middlesex Division
The Honorable Jeffrey A. Abber
(March 29, 2017)