Adoption of amendments to Local Rule 25.0, Local Rule
11.0 and IOP VI
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit hereby
provides notice that it has adopted amendments to Local Rule 25.0,
Local Rule 11.0 and Internal Operating Procedure VI. The effective
date of the amendments is August 21, 2017. Amended Local Rule 25.0
will supersede the court's September 14, 2009, Administrative Order
Regarding Case Management/Electronic Case Files System, which will
no longer be in effect as of August 21, 2017. Visit
http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/to view Local Rule 25.0, Local Rule
11.0 and Internal Operating Procedure VI, with the amendments
incorporated.
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants to
succeed retiring Justice Geraldine Hines as co-chair of the
Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants will succeed
retiring Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Geraldine Hines
as co-chair of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission.
Chief Justice Gants had previously co-chaired the commission from
2010 to 2015.
The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission was established
by order of the Supreme Judicial Court to provide leadership,
vision and coordination in the search for equal justice for all
persons in the commonwealth. The commission's membership includes
representatives from the court system, legal aid organizations, bar
associations, social service agencies, the private bar, law
schools, businesses, and clients, working together to promote equal
access to justice.
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Hines is stepping down after
having served on the bench for 16 years, first on the Superior
Court and then on the Appeals Court before she was appointed to the
Supreme Judicial Court in 2014 by Gov. Deval Patrick. Before
becoming a judge, Justice Hines practiced as an attorney for three
decades, during which she litigated many civil rights cases.
Trial Court issues new child support
guidelines
Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey has announced the
promulgation of revised child support guidelines to be effective on
September 15, based on a comprehensive review by the 2016-17 Child
Support Guidelines Task Force. The task force that conducted the
review, which is required every four years, was chaired by Probate
and Family Court Chief Justice Angela M. Ordoñez.
The child support guidelines are used by Trial Court judges in
setting orders for child support, in deciding whether to approve
agreements for child support, and in deciding cases that are before
the court to modify existing orders. The task force recommended a
number of clarifications and changes. Some are minor, while others
represent new or modified provisions. The most significant
include:
- Increasing the minimum support order to $25 per week
- Removing the parenting time/child support calculation that was
inserted into the 2013 guidelines
- Including a capped adjustment in the child support calculation
for child care and health care costs
- Addressing child support for children between the ages of 18
and 23
- Including provisions related to parental contribution to
post-secondary educational expenses
Extensive information about all of the provisions of the child
support guidelines can be found in the commentary that is included
in the guidelines. Additional information on the quadrennial review
of the child support guidelines can be found on the court website
at: http://www.mass.gov/courts/selfhelp/family.
In addition to Probate and Family Court Chief Justice Ordoñez,
the 2016-17 task force included: Rachel B. Biscardi, Esq.; Jennifer
Clapp, Esq.; Associate Justice Kevin R. Connelly; Hon. Shawn Dooley
for the Ninth Norfolk District; Jonathan E. Fields, Esq.; Fern
Frolin, Esq.; Ruth J. Liberman; Linda Medonis, Esq.; Dolores E.
O'Neill, Esq.; Arron Pridgeon; James J. Richards, Esq.; and
Michelle A. Yee, Esq. The economic consultants for this task force
were Mark Sarro, Ph.D. and R. Mark Rogers. The task force was
supported by Project Manager Denise M. Fitzgerald, Esq.; Christine
Yurgelun, Esq.; and Robert Dunphy, Jr., Esq.