Search

Court and Community News

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023
A to J Commission announces new member and release of Annual Report; Superior Court seeks comments on proposed amendment to Rule 64; Bankruptcy rule, form and fee changes now effective; Job openings: Research attorney for the Appeals Court; Attorney positions with the POST Commission

newsfromcourts

A to J Commission announces new member and release of Annual Report 

The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission this week announced the appointment of Community Legal Aid Director of Client Access Gordon Shaw as a new member and the release of the commission's 2022-2023 Annual Report.

First established by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) in 2005, the commission seeks to improve access to justice for people who are unable to afford an attorney for essential civil legal needs, such as cases involving housing, consumer debt, and family law.

"We are pleased to welcome Gordon Shaw, Director of Client Access at Community Legal Aid, to the Commission," said SJC Justice Serge Georges Jr., co-chair of the commission. “Attorney Shaw has been involved in the Commission for many years, including being part of the Justice for All Strategic Planning Process in 2017, Co-Chair of the Ecosystem Committee, a member of the COVID-19 leadership team, and now a Co-Chair of the newly formed Standing Technology and Data Advisory Committee. He has also served as a member of the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services and is a long-time leader in the access to justice community.”

More information about the commission and its activities is available in its Annual Report for 2022-2023.

-------------------------------------

Superior Court seeks comments on proposed
amendment to Rule 64

The Superior Court Rules and Forms Committee is soliciting comments on a proposed amendment to Superior Court Rule 64: Appellate Division. Procedure and Forms.

The amendment adds language to Rule 64, providing a 60-day timeframe within which the Appellate Division may reconsider the legality of a resentencing decision. See Martin v. Commonwealth, 492 Mass. 74, 81 n.13 (2023). The amended language is modeled on Mass. R. Crim. P. 29(a)(1).

The proposed amendment can be found here.

Comments should be sent to alex.philipson@jud.state.ma.us, or to Alex Philipson, Legal Counsel, Massachusetts Superior Court, Three Pemberton Square, 13th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.

The deadline for submitting comments is Jan. 15, 2024.

-------------------------------------

Bankruptcy rule, form and fee changes now effective 

Amendments to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3011, 8003 and 9006, and new Rule 9038, are effective Dec. 1. The text of the amended rules and new rule and the accompanying committee notes can be viewed here

Amendments to Official Bankruptcy Forms 410A and 417A and Director’s Bankruptcy Form 1340 are effective Dec. 1, and information about the form amendments can be found here

The Judicial Conference of the United States approved inflationary adjustments to the Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule effective Dec. 1. The amended fees can be found here.

-------------------------------------

Job Openings

Research attorney for the Appeals Court 

The Appeals Court is seeking to hire a research attorney, which is an entry-level role within the Appeals Court Clerk's Office.

The research Attorney assists the clerk and assistant clerks in performing their legal and administrative duties, works directly with justices in the Appeals Court single-justice and panel sessions, and assists the public by answering procedural questions. The position primarily involves analyzing and researching legal issues and questions, including those raised in appeals, petitions, motions and other filings, and preparing legal memoranda, drafting orders and performing legal research.

Requirements include membership in the Massachusetts bar in good standing, and at least two years' experience as a practicing attorney, preferably including work at the appellate level, or equivalent experience as a judicial law clerk or court staff attorney

Click here for more information and to apply.

-------------------------------------

Attorney positions with the POST Commission 

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, a relatively new state agency, is seeking to secure a large and diverse set of applicants for multiple open attorney positions. Each position offers a chance to join a collegial team of professionals with different backgrounds and perspectives, to help build an agency with an important mission, and to serve the public interest. 

More information can be found on the POST Commission and MassCareers websites.