- Massachusetts Court System
- Executive Office of the Trial Court
- Land Court
Media Contact for Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey Appoints Honorable Gordon H. Piper Chief Justice of the Land Court
Jennifer Donahue and Erika Gully-Santiago
BOSTON, MA — Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey today announced the appointment of Judge Gordon H. Piper as Chief Justice of the Land Court for a five-year term commencing October 29, 2018, in accordance with G.L. c. 211B, § 5. Judge Piper has served on the Land Court since 2002.
“Judge Gordon Piper brings a depth of knowledge and experience that enables him to lead the Land Court in carrying out its mission, while innovating and adapting to the demands of the 21st century,” said Chief Justice Paula M. Carey. “He will inspire judges and staff and ensure public awareness of the Land Court’s essential role in facilitating real estate transactions across the state.”
Judge Piper currently chairs the Land Court’s Committee on Registered Land Guidelines and serves on committees to revise court rules and develop innovations to make litigation more efficient. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Flaschner Judicial Institute and the Trial Court’s digital court room committee. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Piper practiced for 20 years with Goodwin Procter LLP, specializing in real estate and land use matters and real estate litigation. He served as president of the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association, now the Real Estate Bar Association. In 2015, the Massachusetts Judges Conference honored him with an award for judicial excellence.
“I am honored and excited to have been selected to serve as the next Chief Justice of the Land Court,” said Judge Piper. “I look forward to building on the great accomplishments of the court’s previous Chief Justices, and to working hard with the talented and capable judges, leadership, and staff of our specialty court to enhance the delivery of justice to all who bring their real estate litigation and transactional business before us.”
Judge Piper succeeds Chief Justice Judith Cutler who served in that position since 2014 and will retire on October 27th. Chief Justice Carey said “Chief Justice Cutler brought great energy and innovation to the work of the Land Court. She was always a staunch advocate for its important work and her influence and leadership will be missed.”
The Land Court Department has statewide jurisdiction with seven authorized judicial positions. The Massachusetts Trial Court includes seven court departments with 385 judges who deliver justice in 99 courthouses across the state.
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