The 221C Committee is also known as the Committee for the Administration of Interpreters for the Trial Court. This committee is chaired by the Chief Justice of the Trial Court.
The Advisory Committee on Ethical Opinions for Clerks of the Courts provides advisory opinions to Clerks, Registers and their assistants, with respect to the rules of court that govern the ethical and professional conduct of clerks. For more detailed information about the Committee - including information on how to make a request for ethical advice - or to read the applicable court rules or the text of the advisory opinions issued by the Committee, visit the Advisory Committee and Ethics Opinions for Clerks of the Courts webpage.
The Committee on Judicial Ethics provides advisory opinions and informal advice to judges, and to individuals nominated to be judges, with respect to the rules of court that govern the ethical and professional conduct of judges.
Following the recommendation of the Monan Committee, the Massachusetts Legislature in 2003 created the Court Management Advisory Board (the "CMAB") to advise and assist the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court and the Chief Justice for Administration and Management (the "CJAM") on matters pertaining to judicial administration and management and all matters of judicial reform. As mandated by statute, the CMAB is comprised of twelve members, appointed according to the categories of experience set forth in the enabling statute, G.L. 211B, §6A.
The Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee consists of 19 members: primarily judges and chief justices, two law professors, and two members of the bar. The objective of the committee is to examine and revise the judicial performance evaluation system that has been in operation since 2001 pursuant to G.L. c. 211, sec. 26.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Judiciary-Media Committee was established in 1995 to help foster good working relationships and to improve better understanding between the judicial branch and the media, both print and electronic. The Committee helps to address and resolve problems, if possible, incurred by the media in gaining access to court proceedings and documents. It also assists judges and court personnel with questions and concerns involving the media. The Committee sponsors judiciary-media programs and conferences throughout the state in an effort to improve understanding and appreciation of the roles and functions of the judiciary and the media.
The Jury Management Advisory Committee is a standing committee of the Supreme Judicial Court and consists of six members, one of whom is appointed as chairman. The chairperson and committee members are appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court from the justices of any trial or appellate court of the Commonwealth. The committee assists and counsels the Chief Justice and the Supreme Judicial Court in supervising the Office of Jury Commissioner, and assists and counsels the Office of Jury Commissioner in implementing the statutory responsibilities specified in Massachusetts General Law Chapter 234A.
The Commission was created by the Court on February 28, 2005 in response to a proposal developed by the Massachusetts State Planning Board for Civil Legal Services. The Supreme Judicial Court reconstituted the Commission in February 2010. Twenty-four people serve on the Commission. View the Commission's website to learn more.
The Sentencing Commission promotes truth in sentencing by formulating uniform sentencing policies, developing systematic sentencing guidelines, and integrating intermediate sanctions within the sentencing guidelines.
The Standing Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure reviews issues and proposals concerning the Massachusetts Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure, and reports to the Supreme Judicial Court Rules Committee.
The Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure reviews issues and proposals concerning the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure. It is currently revising all of the rules and commentary which were originally adopted in 1979, and reports to Supreme Judicial Court Rules Committee.
The Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct reviews issues and proposals concerning the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct. (Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:07), and reports to the Supreme Judicial Court Rules Committee.
Established in August 1999, the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services works to promote volunteer legal work in Massachusetts to help people of limited means who are in need of legal representation. The Committee administers both the Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards Program and the Pro Bono Honor Roll.
The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court established the Supreme Judicial Court Committee to Study the Code of Judicial Conduct to review the current Massachusetts Code of Judicial Conduct in light of the American Bar Association's 2007 Model Code of Judicial Conduct. The committee consists of members of the judiciary, the bar, and academia.
The Supreme Judicial Court Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure reviews issues and proposals concerning the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Established in January of 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being is charged with planning and overseeing efforts to enhance the well-being of lawyers, judges, and law students in the Commonwealth. Its goals include implementing the recommendations in the final Report of the original SJC Steering Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, which was submitted to the SJC in July 2019. View the Committee's website to learn more.
The Supreme Judicial Court Committee on Restorative Justice was established by the Justices of the SJC to develop, implement, and oversee pilot programs to incorporate restorative justice practices in selected criminal cases in the Massachusetts courts.
In June 2022, the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) appointed a Committee to Study SJC Rule 3:03, which governs law student practice before the Massachusetts courts. The Committee consists of representatives from the Appeals Court and each of the Trial Court departments, as well as the Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, who is responsible for administering Rule 3:03. The Justices asked the Committee to solicit and consider suggestions for improvements to Rule 3:03 and to make recommendations for amendments to the Rule or other changes in its operation and administration.
Chief Justice Paula Carey appointed the Trial Court Public Access to Court Records Committee to develop and propose uniform Trial Court rules governing the public's access to view or copy court case records, including paper and electronic case records, in a courthouse and on the Internet, consistent with current Massachusetts laws, court rules, and appellate court decisions.
