Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall recently appointed Essex County Juvenile Court Judge José Sánchez to the Jury Management Advisory Committee and reappointed Chicopee District Court Judge John M. Payne, Jr. to the Committee. Both appointments are for three-year terms, ending on May 1, 2009. Judge Sánchez fills the position formerly held by Suffolk County Juvenile Court First Justice Paul D. Lewis, whose term has expired.

          The Jury Management Advisory Committee, which consists of six justices appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, according to G.L.c. 234A, §6, is a standing committee of the Court and is charged with assisting the Chief Justice in supervising the Office of Jury Commissioner.

          Judge Sánchez was appointed to the bench in 1995. Previously, he was a staff attorney at the Committee for Public Counsel Services for eight years, and was appointed by Chief Justice Liacos to serve on the Committee’s Board in 1993. He is a former president of the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys, and a former member of the Juvenile Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association. He is currently a Fellow and member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and a member of the Board of Advisors to the Criminal Justice Program at Northern Essex Community College. Judge Sánchez served on the Supreme Judicial Court Committee on Substance Abuse. He received his J.D. degree from Northeastern University School of Law and his B.A. degree from Fordham University.

          Before being appointed to the bench in 2001, Judge Payne was an attorney at the Springfield law firm of Keyes & Donnellan, P.C. for nine years. Previously, he was with the Springfield law firm of Kelly, Pessolano & Withers from 1991 to 1992, and with the law firm of Egan, Flanagan, & Cohen in Springfield from 1984 to 1991. He served as Assistant District Attorney in Hampden County from 1981 to 1984. Judge Payne taught as an adjunct professor at American International College for four years, and, since 1991, has taught on the adjunct faculty of Western New England College School of Law. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Hampden County Bar Association and a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Judge Payne received his J. D. degree from Western New England College School of Law, and received his B.A. degree from American International College.