Committee seeks comment on proposed changes to Rules of
Professional Conduct
The Supreme Judicial Court's Standing Advisory Committee on the
Rules of Professional Conduct has published, for public comment,
proposed revisions to the Massachusetts Rules of Professional
Conduct. The committee undertook a comprehensive review of the
Massachusetts rules to consider revisions to the American Bar
Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
The revisions to the American Bar Association's Model Rules
reflect recommendations made by the ABA's Ethics 2000 Commission
and the ABA's Commission on Ethics 20/20. The comprehensive
amendments proposed by the ABA Ethics 2000 Commission responded to
changes in the profession since the Model Rules' adoption in 1983.
The targeted amendments proposed by the ABA Commission on Ethics
20/20 addressed changes in law practice resulting from
globalization and the profession's increased use of
technology.
The Executive Summary to the report of the SJC's Standing Advisory
Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct summarizes the
committee's major proposals and identifies the recommendations that
have generated dissents from a minority of committee members. Visit
www.mass.gov/courts/sjc for the complete report and
proposals.
The committee will make its recommendations to SJC following
receipt and review of public comments. Comments are due by Monday,
Dec. 2.
SJC appoints new public information officer
The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court have announced Jennifer
Donahue as the court's new public information officer. Donahue
succeeded Joan Kenney on July 22.
The overall mission of the Public Information Office is to educate
and assist the media and the public to understand the role and
function of the Massachusetts courts. The public information
officer is the media liaison and spokesperson for the judicial
branch and advises various court officials on communications issues
and strategies for dealing with complex issues.
Donahue has covered national and New England politics for more
than 24 years as a journalist and communications professional. Most
recently, Donahue was the communications director for the New
England Clean Energy Council. She began her career as an associate
producer at C-SPAN, where Donahue covered the Senate Judiciary
Committee confirmation hearings of United States Supreme Court
Justice Clarence Thomas. Between 1992 and 1995, Donahue was press
secretary to U.S. Senator Hank Brown of Colorado. From 1996 to
1999, she worked at CNN in Washington, where she was a producer for
Inside Politics and Burden of Proof. During the 2000 presidential
election campaign, she covered the race as a political reporter in
New Hampshire and as an on-air analyst for MSNBC. From 2002 to
2009, Donahue served as senior advisor for political affairs and
director of political communication for the New Hampshire Institute
of Politics at Saint Anselm College.
Trial Court issues revised child support guidelines
worksheet
Effective Aug. 1, Chief Justice of the Trial Court Paula M. Carey
has announced the promulgation of a revised Child Support
Guidelines Worksheet. The worksheet was revised to correct formula
errors found in the version posted and released on June 20, 2013.
Section 3 of the worksheet was also revised to clarify the
treatment of available income above $4,808. Only the revised
worksheet, identified on the bottom left corner as "CJD 304 (8/1/13
rev.) CSG" will be accepted for filing after Aug. 1.
Probate and Family Court releases new forms, materials for
amended Rule 412
The Probate and Family Court has announced the release of new
forms and informational material as a result of recent changes to
Rule 412 of the Supplemental Rules of the Probate and Family
Court.
Effective Aug. 1, Rule 412 allows parties to jointly request
modification of a judgment or temporary order of the Probate and
Family Court where the parties are in agreement, the agreement is
in writing and all other requirements of the rule are met. The
changes to the rule will allow the Probate and Family Court to
handle more cases administratively.
The new forms include a Joint Petition/Motion (CJD 124), an
Agreement (CJD 311) and a Judgment/Temporary Order (CJD 446). The
new Joint Petition/Motion (CJD 124) replaces the Joint Petition for
Modification of Child Support Judgment (CJD 114). The informational
material includes a Checklist of Required Forms (CJD 901) and a
General Information (CJD 903) sheet that includes filing fee
information.
Trial Court locations return to full public office hours
Chief Justice of the Trial Court Paula M. Carey and Court
Administrator Harry Spence have announced that all Trial Court
offices will return to a full schedule of public hours, effective
Sept. 3. All Clerks' Offices will resume a Monday through Friday
schedule of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which are standard hours of
operation statewide.
Staffing levels, caseloads and public concerns about extended
backlogs compelled the decision to adjust office hours to
facilitate case processing in more than 30 court locations,
beginning in September 2011. The scheduling of court sessions was
not affected by the changes in office hours and access was
available for emergency matters. The reduction in counter and
telephone hours provided uninterrupted time for staff to prepare
cases for court sessions and execute court orders, as well as to
complete filing, docketing, scanning and other case
processing.
The Trial Court experienced an 18 percent staff reduction during a
four-year hiring freeze that began in 2008. The staffing shortages
created critical delays in case processing, which required the
restricted public hours. As a result of the Legislature's
stabilization of the court budget, the Trial Court began to fill
critically needed positions. In addition to improved staffing,
expanded electronic data exchange and other operational
efficiencies have enabled the restoration of full operations.
Tauro to take senior status
U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro has advised President
Barack H. Obama that he intends to retire from regular active
service as a U.S. District Court judge on Sept. 26. Tauro plans to
continue his service at the court as a senior judge. This year,
with more than 40 years of active service on the bench, Tauro
became the longest serving active judge on the court since its
creation by the first Congress in 1789.