​ Trial Court Awarded Two Federal Grants to Expand Family Treatment Court Program and Reduce High-Risk Probationer Recidivism

Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Locke and Trial Court Administrator John Bello today announced that the Trial Court recently received two federal grants totaling $2.6 million from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to support family treatment courts and the court’s efforts to reduce rates of recidivism among high-risk probationers. Read Full Article

Social Law hosts CLE on Important Recent SJC Decision

93A Can Now Overcome Contracts Including Contractual Limitation of Liability Clauses. Revolutionary is a fair characterization of the SJC’s new decision in H1 Lincoln v. South Washington Street, LLC. Now a contract breach by conduct that is unfair or deceptive and done willfully and knowingly is a 93A violation. And such violation will necessarily result in an award of 2 or 3 times actual damages as well as attorney’s fees. The SJC further held that a contractual limitation of liability clause cannot bar such claims. The revolution is now that no contract is any longer safe from a devastating triple damages 93A claim. Read Full Article

Supreme Judicial Court Issues Order ​Relaxing Mask Mandate in State Courthouses

The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued a new order today regarding access to Massachusetts state courthouses, which relaxes the requirements with respect to the wearing of masks, effective March 23, 2022. Read Full Article

Supreme Judicial Court Further Pauses Jury Trials Until February 14, 2022

The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued an order extending the current pause on all jury trials in Massachusetts state courthouses for an additional two weeks, until February 14, 2022. All courts otherwise remain open for in-person business, with a continued emphasis on conducting matters remotely whenever possible. Read Full Article

​The Massachusetts Superior Court Seeks to Fill Three Research Attorney Positions

​The Massachusetts Superior Court seeks to fill three Research Attorney positions, serving all the Justices of the Superior Court. This is a professional, permanent position within the Administrative Office of the Superior Court. Research Attorneys assist the Justices with legal research, writing, and analysis. Research Attorneys prepare draft decisions, research memoranda, and other documents; analyze and research specific legal issues and questions for the judges; and may assist in training and oversight of other legal research staff and interns. Read Full Article