Supreme Judicial Court Appoints Hon. Heidi E. Brieger as Chief Justice of the Trial Court

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court today announced the appointment of the Honorable Heidi E. Brieger as the new Chief Justice of the Trial Court pursuant to G.L. 211B, § 6, effective December 22, 2023. Judge Brieger was appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court in June 2021. She succeeds Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey A. Locke, who will reach the mandatory retirement age in December after serving in the position since January 2022. Read Full Article

Supreme Judicial Court Commences Search for Next Chief Justice of the Trial Court

With Chief Justice Jeffrey Locke retiring in December 2023, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has commenced the process to select his successor by issuing a notice inviting applications and nominations for the position of Chief Justice of the Trial Court. Read Full Article

Trial Court Awarded Federal Grant to Improve Probationer Reentry and Employment

Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey A. Locke and Trial Court Administrator John A. Bello today announced that the Trial Court has received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to support reentry education and employment outcomes for probationers. The Massachusetts Probation Service’s Office of Community Corrections will use the three-year federal grant of $900,000 to pilot the new High-Tech Career Reentry Path (HTCRP) Project. Read Full Article

Massachusetts Trial Court to Launch $2M Grant to Expand Springfield Drug Court Services

At a virtual event on Monday, January 25, the Massachusetts Trial Court will launch its MISSION-Springfield Grant, a $2 million, five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to significantly expand services offered by the Springfield District Court Drug Court. MISSION-Springfield will offer evidence-based wraparound case management and peer recovery support to participants in the Springfield Drug Court who have substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. Read Full Article

(11/16) Press Release - Courts Receive $6 Million Federal Award to Expand Connections to Behavioral Health Treatment, Sober Housing and Transportation

Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey, Trial Court Administrator Jonathan Williams, and Probation Commissioner Edward Dolan today announced that the Trial Court has received its largest federal grant ever – a $6 million award from the Department of Justice to expand court-based connections for individuals at risk of overdose in 12 local courts that serve 62 communities. Read Full Article