Participate in Middlesex County judicial
evaluations
Members of the bar are asked to participate in the ongoing
evaluation of judges in the District Court, Juvenile Court,
Probate, Family Court and Housing Court in Middlesex County. The
evaluation system is the best way to tell the judge and court
leadership of your experiences before the judge. Every judge will
sit down with his or her department chief justice and discuss their
evaluation.
Members of the bar should have received an email to participate
in the judicial performance evaluation for Trial Court judges.
Barnstable and Bristol county drug courts recieve
federal grants
The Massachusetts Trial Court has announced that it has been
awarded two federal grants totaling $1.375 million to expand
services offered to court-involved juveniles in the Bristol County
Juvenile Drug Court and to Cape Cod adults participating in the
Barnstable Drug Court.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
awarded a $975,000 three-year grant to the Barnstable Drug Court,
while a second grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention will provide $400,000 over two years to
enhance services for teens participating in three Bristol County
Juvenile Drug Court sessions.
Baker administers ceremonial oath of office to
Kafker
On Oct. 5, Gov. Charlie Baker administered the ceremonial oath
of office to Scott L. Kafker, the sixth chief justice of the
Massachusetts Appeals Court, before an assembly of several hundred
people in the Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse.
"I'm honored that Chief Justice Kafker's appointment was the
first of my administration, and believe he is well-suited to uphold
the legacy and independence of the court," said Baker. "Under his
leadership, I am confident the Appeals Court will be an essential
partner in our work to ensure state government and the courts serve
all residents equally before the law."
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Robert J. Cordy delivered opening
remarks and served as master of ceremonies. Lt. Gov. Karyn E.
Polito and Baker delivered keynote remarks, after which Baker
administered the ceremonial oath of office.
"I believe that a chief justice must wake up every morning
committed to making a difference in the lives of the people of the
commonwealth," Kafker said, in remarks following his ceremonial
swearing in. "The chief justice must be the court's conscience in
terms of constantly comparing its overall performance with its
ideals, as the chief is entrusted with the responsibility of being
the daily guardian of the court's administration of justice in the
public interest."
Baker nominates three to Massachusetts Appeals
Court
Gov. Charlie Baker has nominated the Hon. C. Jeffrey Kinder and
attorneys Vickie L. Henry and Eric Neyman to the Massachusetts
Appeals Court.
Visit www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-
releases
to learn more.
Recent amendments in the SJC
The Supreme Judicial Court has approved the amendment to the
Appeals Court Standing Order concerning petitions to the Single
Justice pursuant to G.L. c. 231, §118, effective Oct. 1.
The Supreme Judicial Court has approved amendments to
Massachusetts Superior Court Rules 7, 9A, 9C, 13, 17, 22, 29 and
30A; new Rules 19, 30A, 31, and 33; and repeal of Standing Orders
1-06, 1-07 and 1-09. Action on proposed new Superior Court Rule 17A
is deferred. The amendments are effective Jan. 1, 2016.
The Supreme Judicial Court has approved amendments to Rule 1:15
of the Rules of the Supreme Judicial Court effective Oct. 1.
The Supreme Judicial Court has approved amendments to Trial
Court Rule VIII, Uniform Rules on Impoundment Procedure, effective
Oct. 1.
Visit www.mass.gov/courts to view the amendments