Governor's Council confirms Hines as SJC associate
justice
The Governor's Council has unanimously confirmed Justice
Geraldine S. Hines to serve as an associate justice of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Hines, a respected Appeals
Court associate justice, will fill the vacancy created by the
retirement of Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland. Hines will become
the first African-American woman to sit on the state's highest
court.
Hines was appointed by Governor Deval L. Patrick as an Appeals
Court associate justice in 2013, after serving as a Superior Court
associate justice since 2001. Prior to her appointment to the
bench, Hines practiced law in Boston, concentrating on criminal
defense, civil rights litigation and social justice advocacy.
"We commend the historic confirmation of Judge Geraldine S.
Hines as the first African-American woman to sit on the Supreme
Judicial Court," said Massachusetts Bar Association Chief Legal
Counsel and Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy. "Judge Hines
is a well-established champion of individual liberties and civil
rights. The SJC, as well as the citizens of Massachusetts, will
undoubtedly benefit from the addition of her strong talents and
keen intellect."
Boal becomes Chief Magistrate
Boal was appointed United States magistrate judge by the
United States District Court in 2010. From 2002 to 2010, Boal
served as the chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney's
Office for the District of Massachusetts. In that capacity, she
both litigated cases and supervised a 40-person division.
Before being named civil chief, Boal served in the District of
Massachusetts' Criminal Division for three years prosecuting
economic crimes and asset forfeiture cases. She also served as an
assistant U.S. attorney from 1991 to 1999 in the Civil Division of
the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New
York. Prior to becoming an assistant U.S. attorney, Boal worked in
private practice at Shearman & Sterling in New York City.