Boston — The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court today announced the appointment of Attorney Pamela J. Wood of Weston as the new Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The five-year term becomes effective on November 3, 2003.

           The Jury Commissioner, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 234A, is responsible for the administration of the jury system for the Commonwealth and serves as the executive head of the Office of Jury Commissioner. With supervision and guidance of the Jury Management Advisory Committee, a Standing Committee of six judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, the Jury Commissioner establishes and implements policies and procedures for the selection and management of grand and trial jurors in 58 trial courts and 14 grand jury sites in Massachusetts.

          Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall said, “Jury service, one of our society’s most important civic responsibilities, gives the public the greatest opportunity to participate in our justice system. I am confident that under the strong leadership of our new Jury Commissioner, Pamela Wood, the excellent work of the Office of Jury Commissioner in administering the jury system and educating the public will continue to safeguard our constitutional right to trial by jury.”

          Ms. Wood, who has extensive management and legal experience, has been General Counsel and Deputy Director of the Board of Registration in Medicine since 1999. Prior to that, she was a Senior Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission for eleven years. Ms.Wood was a litigation associate at Choate, Hall & Stewart for three years and an associate at Bingham, Dana & Gould (now Bingham McCutchen), where she began her legal career. She received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A from Wellesley College. As an active member of the Boston Bar Association, Ms. Wood was a founding member and chair of the Young Lawyers group and served on the Corporate Counsel and Membership committees. She also is involved in civic and charitable activities in Boston and Weston.

          The Office of Jury Commissioner summonses approximately 1.2 million citizens each year to serve as prospective jurors in courts throughout the Commonwealth. The Office handles about 1500 questions each day from the public via a toll-free Juror Information hotline (1-800-THE JURY), which serves both English and Spanish-speaking individuals.

          In 1988, Massachusetts became the first state in the country to implement a statewide “one day-one trial” jury system, in which jurors, who are randomly selected by annual census lists provided by cities and towns, serve for one day or the duration of one trial.