SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT APPOINTS AD HOC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TO STUDY CANON 3 OF CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT
The
Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court today announced
the establishment of an Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to consider
the provisions of Canon 3 of the Massachusetts Code of
Judicial Conduct that pertain to public comment by judges. The
provisions are contained in S.J.C. Rule 3:09, Canon
3B (9).
The
Committee’s task is to provide the Justices with
a recommendation regarding changes, if any, that should
be made in the canons or commentary to that provision of
the Code, or such other recommendations relating to public
comment by judges that the Committee wishes to make. The
Justices have asked the Committee to submit its report
within three months.
The
Supreme Judicial Court had previously revised the Code
of Judicial Conduct on October 1, 2003, following extensive
study and recommendations by a committee appointed by the
Court in 1998. The Justices solicited comments on
the recommendations from those outside the committee prior
to the adoption of the new Code.
In
2003, the American Bar Association began work on revising
its Model Code of Judicial Conduct and last February adopted
a new Model Code. The Ad Hoc Committee will review the
2007 Model Code as part of its study.
Superior
Court Judge E. Susan Garsh was appointed by the Justices
to chair the Ad Hoc Committee to review the Canon that
pertains to public comment by judges. The other members
are as follows:
Jonathan M. Albano, Partner,
Bingham McCutchen LLP, Boston
Michael P. Angelini, Chairman,
Bowditch and Dewey, LLP, Worcester
Hon. Jay D. Blitzman, Associate
Justice, Middlesex Juvenile Court
Hon. Kathleen E. Coffey, First
Justice, West Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court
Hon. Ralph D. Gants, Associate
Justice, Superior Court
Hon. Margaret R. Hinkle, Associate
Justice, Superior Court
Professor Andrew L. Kaufman,
Harvard Law School
Hon. Paul LoConto, Regional
Administrative Judge, Worcester District Court
Hon. James W. Menno, Associate
Justice, Probate and Family Court
Hon. James H. Wexler, Associate
Justice, District Court
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