Welcome

Welcome to the official Web site of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. We are pleased that the Internet provides us the opportunity to inform the public about our court and how it functions. In this way, we hope to promote a better understanding of not only the Appeals Court, but also the judicial system of which it is a part.

This Web site was also established to enhance the ability of the Appeals Court to provide important and timely information to litigants and attorneys. Similarly, it is intended to serve as a resource for the media, educators and students. We trust that this electronic initiative will make our court more accessible to the public that we serve.

Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza

Appeals Court Sits in Counties around the Commonwealth

As part of the Appeals Court's continuing outreach program, the Court will hear oral arguments in several locations outside of Suffolk County and beyond the walls of the John Adams Courthouse in Boston, where the court ordinarily sits. 

As in Boston, the sessions are open to the public with seating allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Sittings begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.  A three judge panel generally hears six cases during each session and arguments take approximately thirty minutes per case.

Check the Appeals Court online calendar regularly to find a sitting in your area and to access public docket information about the cases once they are assigned.   

Scheduled sessions outside of Boston in 2011-2012:

Hampshire Superior Court, 15 Gothic St., Northampton
July 20, 2011

Western New England College School of Law, Springfield
October 3, 2011

Massachusetts School of Law, Andover
November 1, 2011

New England Law, Boston
November 3, 2011

University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus
March 5, 2012

Future dates to be announced.

Student groups:  Teachers and high school students are invited to observe all or part of a sitting and may contact Tina LaFranchi, at tina.lafranchi@appct.state.ma.us or 617-626-7914, to arrange for group seating and an informal educational discussion with the panel members and/or a volunteer attorney.

Media representatives:  The SJC Rule for cameras in the courtroom will apply.  Interested media representatives should contact Tina LaFranchi, at tina.lafranchi@appct.state.ma.us, in advance of the sitting.