Governor nominates Hines to the SJC
Gov. Deval L. Patrick has announced the nomination of
Justice Geraldine S. Hines to serve as an associate justice of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC). Hines, a highly
respected Appeals Court associate justice, is slated to fill the
vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Chief Justice
Roderick L. Ireland.
Hines was appointed by Gov. 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. She
has taught trial advocacy at Northeastern University School of Law
as an adjunct faculty member for more than 20 years. In 1989, she
and retired Boston Municipal Court Judge Margaret Burnham formed
the first law firm in New England of women of color.
"We commend the governor on his historic appointment of Judge
Hines, who, in addition to being the first African-American woman
to sit on the Supreme Judicial Court, brings a stellar reputation
as one of the intellectual giants in our judiciary," said
Massachusetts Bar Association Chief Legal Counsel and Chief
Operating Officer Martin W. Healy. "In selecting strong women
judges for four of his five appointments to the SJC, Governor
Patrick has left an indelible mark on our highest court, which more
closely reflects the diversity of the citizens of the
commonwealth."
Mastroianni, Sorokin and Talwani sworn in as U.S.
District Court judges
Hon. Mark Mastroianni, Hon. Leo Sorokin and Hon. Indira
Talwani recently took the oath of office to serve on the bench for
the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Assistant Federal Public Defender Page Kelley has been selected to
fill the magistrate judge position vacated by the elevation of
Sorokin.
Mastroianni is a graduate of Western New England School of Law
and American International College. He was the Hampden County
District Attorney for three years prior to joining the bench.
Sorokin is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Yale College.
He served as a U.S. magistrate judge from 2005 until his
appointment as a district judge. Sorokin served as a law clerk to
Judge Rya W. Zobel from 1991 to 1992.
Talwani is a graduate of Harvard-Radcliffe College and received
her J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of
California. She was a partner in the Boston law firm of Segal
Roitman LLP.
SJC invites comment on proposed amendments to Rule
45
The Supreme Judicial Court's Standing Advisory Committee
on the Rules of Civil Procedure invites comments on proposed
amendments to Rule 45 of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil
Procedure. The proposed amendments can be found at
mass.gov/courts.
The committee recently reviewed Rule 45 governing subpoenas in
light of changes to Rule 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, effective December 1, 2013, and the 2014 changes to Rule
45 of the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure resulting from the
amendments concerning electronically stored information. The
committee proposes that Rule 45 be further amended to provide for a
documents-only subpoena that may be directed to a non-party, a
practice that has existed under the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure since 1991. The proposed amendment would eliminate the
need to notice the deposition of a non-party keeper of records for
the sole purpose of document production. Other proposed changes
would bring Rule 45 up to date and make the rule consistent with
current subpoena practice.
The committee solicits and welcomes comments from the bar prior
to presenting its recommendation to the Rules Committee of the SJC.
Comments should be directed to Christine Burak, Supreme Judicial
Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston 02108 on or before July 18, 2014. Comments will be made available to the
public.