Attorney Gilbert Lima Jr. has been appointed court administrator
of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza
announced.
Lima, whose appointment is effective July 1, succeeds the recently
retired Alex McNeil, the only other person to hold the position
since the court was established in 1972.
A summa cum laude graduate of Framingham State College
and a magna cum laude graduate of Western New England
College School of Law, Lima has worked in the Appeals Court clerk's
office for more than 20 years, the last 10 as first assistant
clerk. Prior to that, he was an assistant district attorney,
serving in Bristol County between 1983 and 1989. He is also a
retired major in the Military Police of the U.S. Army Reserve. Lima
was mobilized as a platoon leader and company executive officer in
Operation Desert Storm and then led a military observer controller
team conducting training for units mobilized in support of
anti-terrorist activity. He lives in Rehoboth with his wife and
three children.
Announcing the appointment, Rapoza said, "I am extremely pleased
to appoint Gil Lima as court administrator of the Appeals Court. He
has demonstrated both the knowledge and leadership skills necessary
to assist me in administering the court and he has my complete
confidence in his new role. I look forward to working with him in
the years to come." Rapoza added that, with the appointment last
year of Joseph Stanton as the new clerk of the Appeals Court, "I
believe we have assembled an excellent management team to help
guide the Appeals Court during these difficult times."
Lima said, "I am deeply honored to have been appointed to be the
court administrator. I look forward to working with Chief Justice
Rapoza and all of the justices, and also with my colleagues in the
Appeals Court and throughout the Massachusetts court system."