Press Release  Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey Appoints Honorable Heidi E. Brieger Chief Justice of the Superior Court

BOSTON, MA — Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey today announced the appointment of Judge Heidi E. Brieger as Chief Justice of the Superior Court for a five-year term in accordance with G.L. c.211B, §5. 

“I am pleased to appoint Judge Brieger to lead the Superior Court for the next five years,” said Chief Justice Carey. “She is highly respected by her colleagues and by members of the bar for her judicial intellect, judgment, listening skills, collaborative management, work ethic and integrity. Judge Brieger is a thoughtful leader who is respected and trusted by others. She has the ability to create consensus by seeking input and to provide clear, capable direction. I believe that she will ably meet the high standard of excellence set by Chief Justice Fabricant and continue her remarkable leadership of the Superior Court.”

Judge Brieger was appointed by Governor Deval L. Patrick to the Superior Court in 2012. She serves as the Regional Administrative Justice for Civil Business in Suffolk County and chairs the Superior Court Education Committee. She served as the Chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office beginning in 2006, following her service as a prosecutor in that office since 1992. She was a law clerk to the Honorable Andrew A. Caffrey, Chief United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts. Judge Brieger is a graduate of Smith College and Boston College Law School.

Judge Brieger said, “I am honored by Chief Justice Carey’s confidence in me, and by the support of my colleagues. We have much work ahead of us this year to reopen the Courts in the Commonwealth. I look forward to working with Chief Justice Carey, my colleagues, the Bar, the Clerks, the Jury Commissioner, and all interested parties to successfully do so.”   

The Superior Court Department comprises 14 counties with 82 authorized judicial positions across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Trial Court includes seven court departments with 385 judges who deliver justice in 97 courthouses across the state. 

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