Supreme Judicial Court posts oral argument
schedule
The Supreme Judicial Court has posted its sitting list for oral
arguments in February and March 2016. Oral arguments are
public proceedings. Arguments are webcast and are archived for
later public viewing. Visit www.ma-appellatecourts.org for more
information.
Superior Court's new guidelines for Probation Violation
Proceedings take effect
The Superior Court's newly-adopted Guidelines for Probation
Violation Proceedings take effect Feb. 1, 2016.
The purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that judicial
proceedings undertaken in the Superior Court on an allegation of a
violation of probation are conducted in accordance with applicable
law, and in a prompt, uniform and consistent manner. The guidelines
clarify certain legal requirements, set timelines and establish a
general policy against tracking of violation hearings with pending
criminal cases, subject to exception based on a finding of good
cause by a judge or magistrate.
New website for Center of Excellence for Specialty
Courts
The Massachusetts Trial Court, in partnership with the
University of Massachusetts Medical School, the Department of
Public Health, and the Department of Mental Health, now has a new
website for the Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts,
www.macoe.org.
The site will be a vital resource for judges, probation
officers, clinicians, attorneys, drug court participants and their
families and the public. It includes a searchable database of
national case law and research about specialty courts, the Trial
Court's new Adult Drug Court Manual, announcements for
upcoming trainings and other events, court forms and a list of
specialty court sessions in Massachusetts.
The new website will share evidence-based practices, as well as
information about training and resources to enable specialty courts
to incorporate the latest advances. The site will also provide
useful information to educate the public about specialty
courts.
Probation commissioner appoints new statewide Electronic
Monitoring Program manager
Massachusetts Commissioner of Probation Edward J. Dolan has
appointed Daniel Pires as the new statewide manager of the
Electronic Monitoring (ELMO) Program.
The ELMO Program is a 365-day, 24-hour operation which employs a
40-member staff. The employees closely monitor the whereabouts of
2,900 probationers and parolees who are sentenced to wear the GPS
bracelet.
As the new statewide manager of ELMO, his duties will include
the development and implementation of ELMO Center operation
policies and practices, management of ELMO Center operations and
oversight of staff, ensuring compliance with subpoenas for records
and testimony by ELMO staff, and monitoring the issuance of
warrants by the on-call staff.
Pires held the position of program manager at the Electronic
Monitoring Center prior to his new appointment. He first joined the
service as an assistant ELMO coordinator in 2004. In 2007, he was
promoted from assistant ELMO coordinator to ELMO coordinator, a
position he held until 2008, when Pires was named program
manager.
He earned both a bachelor of arts degree in elementary/special
education in 1999 from Providence College in Providence, Rhode
Island and a master's degree in public administration with a
concentration in criminal justice in 2014 from Anna Maria College
in Paxton.
Attorney vacancies at the U.S. Department of
Justice
Every year, more than 1,800 volunteer legal interns serve in
U.S. Department of Justice components and U.S. Attorneys' Offices
throughout the country. Any law student enrolled at least
half-time, and who has completed at least one semester of law
school, is eligible to apply for a volunteer legal internship.
DOJ offices recruit for legal interns through vacancy
announcements posted on the DOJ Legal Careers website at www.justice.gov/legal-careers/volunteer-internship-opportunities.
Each announcement lists the applicable deadlines and requirements
and students interested in volunteer internships at DOJ for spring
and summer 2016 should apply now. Students apply directly to each
office in which they have an interest.