Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Decisions
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is one of the oldest state supreme courts in the U.S. It was known as the Superior Court of Judicature when it was founded in 1692. Three of its chief justices have served on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court has the authority to review appeals of criminal and civil cases, and it holds the unusual power to provide advisory opinions. The executive branch or the legislative branch may request these opinions. The site of the Court is the John Adams Courthouse in Boston.
There are no specific requirements for becoming a justice on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. A justice simply must be under 70 years old and maintain good behavior while serving on the Court. The Governor of Massachusetts appoints each of the seven justices on the Court, although they also must be approved by the executive council. In contrast to the supreme courts in many other states, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court does not impose term limits on its justices. Once they are appointed, they may serve until they turn 70, at which age they are required to retire. The same rules apply to the appointment and tenure of the Chief Justice as to the six Associate Justices.
However, a judge may face removal from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for reasons related to misconduct or a disability. The Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct will investigate any complaint of misconduct by a justice, and it will hold a formal hearing and provide a recommendation on whether the justice should be removed or face other discipline. A justice who engages in misconduct also may face removal by impeachment in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and conviction in the Massachusetts Senate. In other situations, the Governor may remove a justice with the approval of the Governor’s Council and with the joint address of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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Recent Decisions From the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Date: March 25, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13592
Justia Opinion Summary: A Cambridge police officer observed a black Mazda sedan with an unilluminated rear license plate and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, Natnael Zemene, and two passengers were removed from the vehicle for an inventory…
Date: March 25, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13616
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant was observed by a state trooper driving at a high speed and was stopped. During the stop, the trooper noticed the defendant making movements that suggested he might be armed. The trooper conducted a…
Date: March 21, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13666
Justia Opinion Summary: Two minor sisters suffered severe harm while in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In August 2015, the older sister, then twenty-two months old, manipulated a thermostat dial from her crib,…
Date: March 17, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-12685
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder for killing his wife after discovering text messages between her and another man. The defense argued mental impairment, supported by an expert forensic psychiatrist's…
Date: March 14, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13624
Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff, Matthew Theisz, was assaulted by an MBTA bus driver with a known history of anger management issues and prior violent incidents. The MBTA had hired, promoted, and retained the driver despite his…
Date: March 13, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13350
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. The murder occurred on July 4, 2018, when the victim was shot while watching fireworks with his wife. The shooter was a passenger…
Date: March 11, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13561
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, a New Hampshire resident, was arrested in Massachusetts on November 8, 2021, for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol following a collision. During a search of his vehicle, a handgun…
Date: March 11, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13562
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, a New Hampshire resident, was involved in a vehicle accident in Massachusetts and was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The…
Date: March 11, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13651
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute over the lease of a commercial property that has lasted nearly eight years. The plaintiff brought claims against the defendants for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good…
Date: March 5, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13348
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the defendant, David Roman, who was convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Joseph Stanick. On May 9, 2015, a police officer found Stanick's dead body at his residence. Roman admitted…
Date: February 26, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13644
Date: February 25, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13161
Justia Opinion Summary: In the early morning of October 23, 2013, Colleen Ritzer, a Danvers High School math teacher, was found dead in the woods outside the high school. She had been raped, strangled, and stabbed. The defendant, a…
Date: February 21, 2025
Docket Number: SJC-13695
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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