Over the last few weeks, the Social Law Library hosted a full slate of educational and cultural events. Judges, attorneys, professors, and even actors, educated and entertained hundreds of attendees on a variety of subject matters.
On Thursday, March 27, 2014, the Social Law Library welcomed practitioners from around the state to learn from an expert panel about the complexities of evidence. "Evidence - Learn What the Judges Learn!" was chaired by Justice Peter W. Agnes of the Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court Evidence Committee and featured Hon. Mark S. Coven of the District Court, Prof. Phillip K. Hamilton of New England Law, Elizabeth N. Mulvey of the Appeals Court, and Appeals Court Clerk Joseph F. Stanton. The event’s agenda included, but was not limited to, discussion of the evidentiary implications surrounding hearsay, consciousness of guilt, motions in limine, OUI lay witness testimony. The Library would like to thank Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Evidence Law for co-sponsoring the event.
The library’s auditorium was transformed into the study of Civil War General Winfield Scott on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. “The Choice,” a play written by Hon. Hiller B. Zobel, allowed attendees to ease drop on a conversation between Colonel Robert E. Lee and General Scott regarding Lee’s allegiance for the impending American Civil War. The Library would like to thank Judge Zobel, director by Tasia Jones, and featured actors Shelly Bolman as General Scott and Derek Fraser as Colonel Lee. This program was made possible through the generosity of the William M. Wood Foundation, Bank of America, Trustee.
On Wednesday, April 2, 2014, the Library hosted “Evidence for Family Court Practitioners” featuring Hon. Robert A. Scandurra, Hon. Amy L. Blake, Hon. Maureen H. Monks, and Hon. Barbara M. Hyland. The lively panel, and equally energetic audience, engaged in discussion prompted by hypotheticals created by each judge on the panel. The Library would like to thank our co-sponsors Senior Partners for Justice, and the Massachusetts Family and Probate American Inn of Court.
The week’s calendar of event concluded with another all-star panel for the “Immigration & the Consequences of Criminal Convictions” seminar. Chaired by Lynn S. Muster of the Appeals Court and featuring Judge Carol S. Ball of the Superior Court, Judge Mark S. Coven of Quincy District Court, Justice Elspeth B. Cypher of the Appeals Court, Wendy Wayne of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, and Justice Francis X. Spina of the Supreme Judicial Court, the event covered immigration basics, post-conviction relief, and changes in pleas. Specific attention was paid to Padilla motions (
Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010)) and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 278, Sect. 29D, motions.
The library would like to thank all of our sponsors, panelists, and attendees for making these events a resounding success.