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.
The Supreme Judicial Court has announced the recent appointments of a new chair, vice-chair and three new attorney members to the Board of Bar Overseers.
Vincent J. Pisegna was named chair effective July 1. He has been a BBO member for four years, having previously served as vice-chair. Pisegna is a partner and head of the litigation practice with the Boston law firm, Krokidas & Bluestein LLP. He has more than 38 years of experience practicing civil litigation in state and federal courts.
MBA Treasurer John J. Morrissey was named vice-chair effective July 1. He has been a BBO member for three years. Morrissey has been a trial attorney for more than 25 years and is a founding partner of Morrissey, Wilson & Zafiropoulos LLP in Braintree, where he practices in the areas of plaintiff's personal injury and represents individuals and businesses in commercial and real estate disputes.
The new members are attorneys April C. English, Jeffrey R. Martin, and Tejal R. Mehta. Their terms took effect July 1 and will expire on June 30, 2021.
April English is a 14-year veteran of the Attorney General's Office, currently serving as the first chief of organizational development and diversity within Attorney General Maura T. Healey's Executive Bureau.
Jeffrey Martin is general counsel, partner, and co-chair, business litigation & dispute resolution, of the Boston-based firm, Burns & Levinson.
Tejal Mehta is a trial attorney and founder of the Mehta Law Offices in Woburn. She previously served 11 years as an assistant district attorney with the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.
The Board of Bar Overseers was established by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1974 as an independent administrative body to adjudicate complaints against the commonwealth's attorneys and to take disciplinary action, or recommend such action to the Supreme Judicial Court, as appropriate. The Board also administers attorney registration, including the registration fees and "Access to Justice" fees. The 12 member Board is comprised of volunteers appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to four-year terms. Eight members are lawyers; the other four are public members.