Judicial Selection in the States: Massachusetts
Overview
Superior Court Judge Ralph D. Gants was appointed an associate justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court by a 6-to-2 vote of the Governor s...
A set of tables that provide detailed information about selection...
The Massachusetts judiciary is composed of the supreme judicial court, the appeals court, and the trial court. Seven departments make up the trial court: the superior court, the district court, the Boston Municipal Court, the juvenile court, the housing court, the land court, and the probate and family court. Since 1780, Massachusetts judges have been appointed for life by the governor with the consent of the governor's council. Since 1975, Massachusetts governors have created nominating commissions by executive order to advise them in making judicial appointments.