Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Jul. 15, 2010
News from the courts
SJC approves changes to Rule 4:03; Court Relocation Committee proposes recommendations
The Supreme Judicial Court has approved changes to Rule 4:03 of
the Rules of the Supreme Judicial Court effective Sept. 1,
regarding periodic assessment of attorneys. Click here to view the changes.
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Court Relocation Committee
proposes recommendations
The Court Relocation Committee met
with Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A.
Mulligan on July 1 to review and discuss the first phase of its
work.The facilities currently proposed for temporary relocation or
consolidation are listed below. The CJAM stressed that this is the
beginning of a process.
The FY11 budget signed by Gov. Patrick leaves the Trial Court with
a shortfall in excess of $21 million. This significant reduction
requires that relocation efforts move forward more quickly than
originally planned. As with prior relocations, the proposed court
relocations or consolidations will not cause layoffs at those
locations. Any layoffs required by budget cuts will be determined
by a separate process.
The criteria established by the committee to identify potential
sites for relocation and consolidation include lease terms and
expenses, personnel impact and staffing levels, the condition of
facilities, building functions, and geography and transportation
issues.
Court Relocation Committee
Recommendations:
- AOTC
Continue to relocate departments to other facilities, including
John Adams Courthouse
- Berkshire County
Berkshire Juvenile Court / North Adams
- Bristol County
Southeast Housing Court / New Bedford will co-locate with other
courts
[New Taunton Courthouse opening in 2011 may allow better
configuration of operations for several court departments in
Bristol County]
- Essex County
Gloucester District Court
- Franklin/Hampshire Counties
Northampton Superior Court ceremonial courtroom & storage
space; Housing Court ancillary space
- Hampden County
Appeals Court administrative office space in Springfield
- Land Court
Land Court to Suffolk County Courthouse / 3 Pemberton Square
- Middlesex County
Framingham Juvenile Court to Marlborough District Court
- Norfolk County
Norfolk Superior Court Probation and Norfolk County Law Library to
Registry of Deeds building
Norfolk Juvenile Court / Dedham to Stoughton District Court
- Plymouth County
Hingham District Court
Wareham District Court
- Suffolk County
Charlestown Division of the Boston Municipal Court
- Worcester County
Leominster District Court
Westborough District Court