Media Advisory



PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square
Boston , MA 02108

CONTACT: Tina LaFranchi Massachusetts Appeals Court 617-626-7914 tina.lafranchi@appct.state.ma.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2010 MASSACHUSETTS APPEALS COURT TO HOLD SITTING AT UMASS SCHOOL OF LAW, NORTH DARTMOUTH ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 What: A panel of three justices of the Massachusetts Appeals Court will hear oral arguments in six appeals in a special session to be held at the UMass School of Law, located at 333 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth. The sitting, part of the Appeals Court's continuing outreach to communities outside Boston, is open to the public. Oral arguments for each case take approximately thirty minutes. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The SJC Rule for cameras in the courtroom will apply: http://www.massreports.com/courtrules/sjcrules.htm#1:19. Interested media representatives should contact Tina LaFranchi in advance of the sitting. Immediately following the session, members of the panel, Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza, Hon. Elspeth Cypher and Hon. Mark Green, will conduct an informal question and answer period for the students on general topics related to the role of Massachusetts Appeals Court. (Pending matters will not be discussed.) Chief Justice Rapoza is a former justice of the Fall River District Court. When: Monday September 27, 2010 9:30 a.m. Where: University of Massachusetts School of Law 333 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747 Background: Established in 1972, the Appeals Court is an intermediate court of general appellate jurisdiction. Most appeals from the several Departments of the Trial Court are entered initially in the Appeals Court; some are then transferred to the Supreme Judicial Court, but a large majority will be decided by the Appeals Court. The Appeals Court also has jurisdiction over appeals from final decisions of three State agencies: the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. More information about the court and the cases scheduled for argument may be obtained from the court's website, http://www.mass.gov/courts/appealscourt.