FEDERAL COURTS
Bankruptcy Merit Selection Panel to screen Worcester bankruptcy
judge applicants
Chief Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
First Circuit has announced the formation of a Bankruptcy Merit
Selection Panel to screen and review the qualifications of
applicants for a bankruptcy judge position for the U.S. District
Court for the District of Massachusetts, headquartered in
Worcester.
The successful candidate will fill the vacancy created by the
retirement of the Hon. Joel B. Rosenthal, who has served as the
bankruptcy judge in Worcester since 2000.
Under the statute providing for the appointment of bankruptcy
judges, the courts of appeals, assisted by the circuit councils,
have the duty of filling vacancies on the bankruptcy court in each
circuit.
The Merit Selection Panel will recommend to the First Circuit
Judicial Council individuals whose character, experience and
commitment to equal justice under the law fully qualify them to
serve as U.S. bankruptcy judges. The Judicial Council will make
recommendations to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which will
make the appointment.
Bankruptcy judges are appointed to 14-year terms by the Court of
Appeals.
U.S. Court of Appeals adopts electronic filing provisions
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has adopted
provisions to govern the electronic filing of documents in cases
before the court. On Oct. 13, the court began permitting filings to
be made by means of the court's electronic filing system.
Effective Jan. 1, use of the electronic filing system is mandatory
for all attorneys filing in this court, unless they are granted an
exemption, and is voluntary for all non-incarcerated pro se
litigants proceeding without counsel. These provisions may be
amended from time to time, with or without prior notice, by further
order of the court.
The clerk may make changes to the procedures for electronic filing
to adapt to changes in technology or to facilitate electronic
filing. The
court may deviate from these procedures in specific cases if deemed
appropriate in the exercise of its discretion.
U.S. Court of Appeals proposes time-computation amendments
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit hereby provides
notice that it proposes amendments to various local rules and
internal operating procedures. The amendments are made to be
consistent with the time-computation amendments to the Federal
Rules of Appellate Procedure effective Dec. 1.
The court also provides notice of the deletion of Local Rule 22.0,
an outdated provision regarding certificates of probable cause. The
provision is no longer necessary, as certificates of appealability
have replaced certificates of probable cause for habeas appeals
initiated on or after April 24, 1996.
MASSACHUSETTS COURTS
Natick District Court relocated to Framingham to save
costs
The Natick District Court has relocated to its new location
within the Framingham District Court, 600 Concord St., Framingham.
The temporary relocation is an expense-reduction measure in
response to the statewide economic decline.
The main number for the Natick District Court is (508) 620-9110 and
the clerk's fax number is (508) 620-9118. The Probation office fax
is (508) 620-9119. The new mailing address is 600 Concord St.,
Framingham, MA 01701. ?