Overview
The Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct’s (CJC’s) website was not fully accessible to all website users. We reviewed a sample of 20 webpages and found that 2 webpages were not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. We determined that one of these webpages contained a broken hyperlink, and the second webpage had content that could not be navigated to using the keyboard.
Noncompliance with WCAG 2.1 reduces accessibility for individuals with disabilities and limits equitable access to CJC information and services. Specific risks include the following:
- Broken or faulty hyperlinks limit users from having access to critical information and key online services offered by CJC. Broken or faulty hyperlinks also increase the likelihood that users may either access outdated or incorrect information or be directed to webpages that no longer exist.
- A lack of keyboard navigability means that users with mobility impairments cannot access certain content.
Authoritative Guidance
The World Wide Web Consortium’s WCAG 2.1 states,
Success Criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard
(Level A)
All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes, except where the underlying function requires input that depends on the path of the user’s movement and not just the endpoints. . . .
Success Criterion 2.4.5 Multiple Ways
(Level AA)
More than one way is available to locate a web page within a set of web pages except where the web page is the result of, or a step in, a process.
Reasons for Issue
CJC management provided us with the following reasons for the exceptions identified in this audit:
- CJC management stated that the keyboard navigability issue may have been related to the selected webpage template. CJC management stated that they would take steps to correct the issue once they determined the cause.
- CJC management stated that the broken hyperlink led to an outdated webpage. CJC management stated that it had unintentionally left the webpage published. Since our audit work, CJC management stated that it has unpublished this webpage.
Recommendations
- CJC should continually review its webpages to ensure that all hyperlinks lead to related information.
- CJC should ensure that its webpages provide equitable access to critical information and services offered online.
Auditee’s Response
The Commission is continuing to work to solve [the issue related to Success Criterion 2.1.1], but it appears to be a problem related to the “binder” page template provided by [the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security].
The specific webpage [with the issue related to Success Criterion 2.4.5] was an older page whose substantive content was moved and/or revised. The links were broken because [CJC] inadvertently left the page active when [CJC] should have unpublished it.
Auditor’s Reply
Based on its response, CJC has taken measures to address our concerns regarding this matter. As part of our post-audit review process, we will follow up on this matter in approximately six months.
| Date published: | November 26, 2025 |
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