Hillman honored at public ceremony
On Nov. 30, 2011, President Barack H. Obama nominated Timothy S.
Hillman to the United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts as the successor to Judge Nancy Gertner upon her
retirement. Hillman was confirmed by the Senate on June 4, 2012 and
received his commission on June 6, 2012. The Oath of Office was
administered initially by Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf on June 7,
2012.
A public ceremony in honor of Hillman, during which the Oath of
Office was again administered, was held on Thursday, Sept. 6 at the
Hanover Theatre, 554 Main St., in Worcester. Senator Scott Brown
and Congressman James McGovern participated in the ceremony.
Since February 2006, Hillman has served as a U.S. Magistrate
Judge for the District of Massachusetts. He was instrumental in
establishing the court's RESTART program for high risk offenders,
with a goal of reducing recidivism and reintegrating ex-offenders
into the community with an emphasis on employment skills. Hillman
has also served as a justice for the Massachusetts Superior Court
and as presiding justice in both the Worcester District Court and
the Gardner District Court.
Healy appointed to represent Massachusetts on the Uniform Law
Commission
Martin W. Healy, the Massachusetts Bar Association's chief
operating officer and chief legal counsel, has been appointed by
Gov. Deval L. Patrick to represent Massachusetts on the Uniform Law
Commission, for a five-year term. Healy is one of three
commissioners who represent the commonwealth.
The ULC is a 120-year-old national law group with headquarters
in Washington, D.C. comprised of more than 300 with the goal of
drafting and promoting uniforms laws designed to solve problems
common in all states.
Patrick in his appointment stated that Healy's "experience and
sound judgment will contribute substantially to the board."
An attorney, Healy also serves on the governing board for the
Committee for Public Counsel Services, is a member of the Board of
Bar Examiners and is a former hearing committee member of the Board
of Bar Overseers.
Healy is the MBA's chief legal advisor and liaison to the
legislative, executive and judicial branches. He is responsible for
legal advice in corporate matters and legal support in issues of
public policy concerning the practice of law and administration of
justice. Healy serves as counsel to the MBA's leadership team and
its House of Delegates and Executive Management Board. He works
with the MBA's sections and committees in developing policy,
analyzing legislation, drafting bills and testifying before court,
legislative and regulatory bodies. Healy also sits on the Editorial
Board of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the SJC
Judiciary-Media Committee.
Prior to his arrival at the MBA in 1989, Healy was a law clerk
in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and in the Law
Office of William F. Coyne in Boston. He also served as a senior
legislative aide in the Massachusetts Senate.
Healy received his law degree, cum laude, from Suffolk University
Law School and his bachelor's degree from Suffolk University.
Commonwealth seeks BMC clerk-magistrate for West
Roxbury
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking a person to serve
as clerk-magistrate of the Boston Municipal Court's West Roxbury
Division with a vacancy created by the Hon. Richard L. Walsh. The
application deadline is Oct. 25, 2012.
Superior Court Business Litigation Session issues new
procedural orders
The Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court has issued
two new procedural orders.
The first relates to partial dispositive motions, to ensure each
motion and its disposition will substantially advance the
litigation. The second provides for telephone participation by
attorneys in certain hearings and conferences upon request.
The Business Litigation Session accepts cases upon initiation of
any party. Administrative Directive 09-1 describes the procedure
and selection criteria for admission. Both orders become effective
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012.
Massachusetts Trial Court Law Library builds its ebooks
collection
Trial Court rules and other documents (such as model jury
instructions, 2012 Massachusetts Guide to Evidence, (etc.)
are now accessible from practitioners' mobile media devices or
computers.
Review the MBA's Guide to the
Massachusetts Judicial Selection Process
The path to judicial selection can be arduous. Candidates are
vetted through both public and private bodies including: the
Judicial Nomination Commission, the Joint Bar Committee on Judicial
Appointments and the Governor's Council.
MBA's A Guide to the Massachusetts Judicial Selection
Process gives a step-by-step account of how the process works.
This second edition covers the most recent Executive Order filed by
Gov. Deval L. Patrick, which established the current Judicial
Nomination Commission.