The Massachusetts Judicial Branch

Supreme Judicial Court

Virtual Tour


The Appeals Court courtroom

The Appeals Court was created in 1972. Nearly all appeals from decisions of the trial courts of the Commonwealth are entered initially in the Appeals Court. A total of twenty-five judges sit on the Appeals Court. Most appeals are decided by a panel of three Appeals Court judges. Two courtrooms, equipped with new digital audio recording equipment for oral arguments, have been restored for Appeals Court hearings.