Press Release  Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd Delivers State of the Judiciary Speech to the Legal Community

BOSTON, MA — The Hon. Kimberly S. Budd presented her fifth annual address on the state of the judiciary to the legal community today. The Massachusetts Bar Association's Bench-Bar event was held in the Seven Justice Courtroom of the John Adams Courthouse in Boston.

In her remarks, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Budd discussed the rule of law, and the role courts play in maintaining stability in society.

“At times like these, when there seems to be increasing discord and strife in our society, the courts can help maintain stability and order by resolving disagreements fairly and rationally according to the rule of law,” Chief Justice Budd said. “We endeavor to base our rulings not on personal preferences or political predilections, but on the fundamental tenets by which our democratic society has agreed to govern itself.  In the words of the Massachusetts Constitution, we seek to promote ‘a government of laws and not of men.’”

Chief Justice Budd also focused on the work the court has undertaken to make the courts more transparent and easier to use. As an example, Chief Justice Budd pointed to the Supreme Judicial Court Guidelines for Civil Cases with Self-Represented Litigants, updated in February.

“These new Guidelines detail the kinds of steps that judges can take – without violating their obligations of impartiality - to ensure that the many litigants who appear in our courts without counsel are fairly heard,” Chief Justice Budd said. “The Guidelines encourage judges and court staff to explain court procedures to self-represented litigants, and to refer them to resources where they can get help, such as Court Service Centers, Lawyers for the Day programs, or legal service organizations.”

Chief Justice Budd also discussed the work the court system is doing to harness technology to help people navigate courthouse and court procedures more easily, such as the completion of Wi-Fi upgrades in nearly all 94 state courthouses, improving access to online resources for court users, and the launch of a digital signage and wayfinding pilot project in Chelsea District Court. 

Chief Justice Budd also addressed the topic of generative artificial intelligence.

“My colleagues at the Supreme Judicial Court and I recognize that GenAI offers enormous potential for streamlining many aspects of the work of attorneys and courts alike,” Chief Justice Budd said. “We are committed to being curious and open-minded about GenAI, while simultaneously being deliberative and thoughtful in how and when we utilize it.”  

Following Chief Justice Budd’s remarks, she, together with Trial Court Administrator Thomas G. Ambrosino, participated in a Q&A session and responded to questions moderated by Massachusetts Bar Association President Michael H. Hayden.

Read Chief Justice Budd’s remarks.

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