First deputy named acting probation
commissioner
Chief Justice of the Trial Court Robert A. Mulligan and Court
Administrator Harry Spence have appointed Ellen G. Slaney to serve
as the acting commissioner of probation on an interim basis until a
permanent commissioner is named in the spring. Slaney has served as
the first deputy for Acting Commissioner Ronald P. Corbett Jr., who
retires this week after a two-year term as acting commissioner
during which he initiated management reforms to restore
professionalism and effectiveness to the state's probation
service.
Slaney was appointed as a probation officer in Roxbury in 1974
and became the assistant chief probation officer there for the
Juvenile Court in 1986. She was named chief probation officer for
the Wrentham District Court in 1990 and regional supervisor in
1997, prior to her appointment as first deputy commissioner in
2011. Slaney holds a B.A from the University of Connecticut and an
M.S. from Simmons College School of Social Work.
Recent management initiatives led by the commissioner's office
included introduction of performance management metrics and
accountability, a new, validated risk/need classification
instrument, merit-based hiring and promotions utilizing best
practices and enhanced partnerships with criminal justice
agencies.
Last fall, the Trial Court retained Isaacson Miller, a
nationally-recognized firm, to lead the search for a new
commissioner of probation. Mulligan and Spence expect to make an
appointment this spring.
Probate and Family Court announces Internet access to
publicly available estate and administration cases
The Probate and Family Court is pleased to announce publicly
available estate and administration cases are now accessible via
the Internet. Access is secured through eAccess and the website
address is www.masscourts.org.
Searches can be done by case number, case name or case type and
can be filtered by various means.
Electronic access to all publicly available case types of the
Probate and Family Court continues to be available at each of the
14 divisions of the Probate and Family Court and at most Registry
of Deeds sites.
NOTE: Only those estate and administration cases that were
created in, or converted to, electronic format will be available on
the Internet.
Appeals Court Pilot Program continuations
The Supreme Judicial Court has approved continuation of Appeals
Court pilot program requiring appellants to file docketing
statements in civil cases until Dec. 31, 2015, effective Jan. 1,
2013. The SJC has also approved continuation of Appeals Court pilot
program requiring appellants to file docketing statements in
criminal cases until Dec. 31, 2015, effective Jan. 1, 2013.
Amendments to SJC Rule 3:12
The SJC has approved changes to Rule 3:12 of the Rules of the
Supreme Judicial Court effective Jan. 1, 2013.
SJC approves Rule 3:16: Practicing with Professionalism
Course for New Lawyers
The SJC has approved new Rule 3:16: Practicing with
Professionalism Course for New Lawyers of the Rules of the Supreme
Judicial Court effective Sept. 1, 2013.
Amendments to Superior Court Rule 9A (b) (5) (ii) and
(iv) and Rule 30B
The SJC has approved changes to Superior Court Rule 9A (b) (5)
(ii) and (iv) and new Superior Court Rule 30B on Certification of
Expert Disclosures effective Jan. 1, 2013.