Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012
News from the courts
SJC seeks Trial Court judges' evaluations; 2012 edition of Massachusetts Guide to Evidence now available; 2011 annual report on Access to Justice Initiative issued
As part of the continuing program to evaluate and enhance
judicial performance, the Supreme Judicial Court is sending
questionnaires to attorneys, court employees and jurors to evaluate
Massachusetts Trial Court judges. Judges in Suffolk County in the
Boston Municipal, District, Juvenile, Housing, and Probate and
Family Courts will be evaluated starting Feb. 22.
Lawyers who have appeared in these courts in the last two years,
according to court records, will receive questionnaires. Attorneys
will receive an e-mail requesting them to log into our website to
complete the evaluation electronically. As required by statute, the
electronic system keeps the evaluations confidential and anonymous.
If there is no attorney's e-mail on record, then a paper
questionnaire will be mailed.
Inquiries concerning questionnaires and evaluations should be
directed to Mona Hochberg, SJC judicial performance evaluation
coordinator, at (617) 557-1156, or via e-mail.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 edition of Massachusetts Guide
to Evidence now available
The Supreme Judicial Court and its Executive Committee on
Massachusetts Evidence Law announced the release of the 2012
edition of the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence on Feb. 10.
The SJC justices recommend use of the guide by the bench, bar and
public.
The 2012 edition is available for free on the web sites of the SJC, Appeals Court and Trial
Court. The print edition is available for purchase from the Flaschner Judicial Institute, which is again
providing a complimentary copy to every judge in the
commonwealth.
The 2012 edition reflects developments in Massachusetts evidence
law that occurred between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2011. In
includes dozens of new opinions issued in 2011 by the SJC, Appeals
Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as new sections
addressing industry and safety standards, electronic or digital,
consciousness of guilt or liability, and missing witness.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 annual report on Access to
Justice Initiative issued
The 2011 Annual Report on the Access
to Justice Initiative in the Trial Court has been submitted.
The report discusses the role of technology in enhancing access to
justice, identifies grants obtained in 2011, and summarizes the
activities and accomplishments of five task forces.
Click here to learn more and view the
report.