About the Appeals Court
The Appeals Court is the Commonwealth's intermediate appellate court. The Appeals Court is a court of general appellate jurisdiction, which means that the justices review decisions that the trial judges from the several Departments of the Trial Court have already made in many different kinds of cases. The Appeals Court also has jurisdiction over appeals from final decisions of three State agencies: the Appellate Tax Board, the Industrial Accident Board and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Appeals Court consists of a chief justice and twenty-four associate justices.
Appeals Court YouTube Channel
Appeals Court oral arguments and other content are available on the Court's YouTube channel.
New: Guide to Appeals
The Clerk’s Office has published a “Guide to Civil and Criminal Panel Appeals” as a downloadable PDF document. The guide contains explanations about the appellate process, relevant rules, and links to legal resources. Download the Guide to Appeals here.
Informal Brief Pilot for Self-Represented (“Pro Se”) parties
The Appeals Court launched an optional Informal Brief Pilot Program in 2023 for cases entered on the court’s “panel” docket, for decision by a panel of Justices. The program permits self-represented (“pro se”) parties to file an “informal” brief instead of a formal brief that strictly complies with the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure, which is what the Appeals Court typically requires. This pilot does not apply in the single justice session of the Appeals Court, or to attorneys, whether they are representing themselves or responding to an informal brief.
An informal brief differs from a formal brief in that it does not need a table of contents, table of authorities, corporate disclosure statement, summary of argument, or addendum, or need to comply with the standard rules regarding margins, font, and the certificate of compliance. An informal brief does, however, still need to comply with the rules about impounded and confidential information.
To file an informal brief, please visit the Informal Brief Pilot webpage here. Guidance and forms for the informal brief of the appellant, appellee, and appellant’s reply are provided, as are forms for an informal record appendix/supplemental appendix and an impounded record appendix.
In February, 2025, Chief Justice Amy Lyn Blake and the Justices of the Appeals Court announced that the court is continuing the Informal Brief Pilot Program through June 2026, and will review the program again in 2026.
Revised Policy on Motions for Remote Oral Argument
Effective January 30, 2025, the Appeals Court has adopted a Revised Policy Regarding Motions for Remote Oral Argument. Please click the preceding link to view or download the policy.
New Pilot Project
The en banc pilot has been replaced, also on a pilot basis, with a process by which the judges may deliberate and review a proposed published opinion with or without a second oral argument. Any opinion that is changed through this process will contain a footnote explaining the process used and will include the names of all judges who participated.
Contact us
Phone
NOTE: The Clerk's Office does not respond to email inquiries. If you have questions concerning appellate procedure or a case, please call the telephone number above.
Address
One Pemberton Square, Room 1200
Boston, MA 02108
Most requested
Additional Information and Announcements
Appeals Court Public Operations Manual
The Appeals Court has prepared a public-facing version of its internal operations manual to provide greater transparency of its procedures and protocols. Please click the link for details and to download the manual.
Clerk's Guide to Electronic Briefs
The Appeals Court has posted a new Clerk's Guide to Electronic Briefs with step by step instructions and illustrations for how to assemble an electronic PDF brief and record appendix for submission through the Appeals Court's eFileMA system.
Appeals Court Summary Process (Eviction) Educational & Help Materials
Find new resources for tenants and landlords regarding summary process/eviction appeals.
Guide to Creating PDFs with Bookmarks and Internal Links
Although not required, the Appeals Court encourages all e-filed briefs and record appendices to contain bookmarks and internal links. The Appeals Court has posted a guide that explains the benefits of these features and how to add them to a brief and record appendix.
Important Information About Unemployment Benefits
If you are appealing your unemployment benefits decision, please see Appeal your unemployment benefits decision for information about how to request and proceed with an appeal, and for contact information for the Department of Unemployment Assistance Hearings Department and Board of Review. Please note that the Massachusetts Appeals Court does not have direct appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the Department of Unemployment Assistance.
"The Review" newsletter
The Review is the quarterly newsletter of the Appeals Court. Click the link above for the page containing each edition.
Register for the Appeals Court mailing list
Register for the Appeals Court mailing list (formerly known as the "listserv") to receive email updates from the Appeals Court and the Appeals Court's quarterly newsletter, The Review.
Amicus Briefs
The Appeals Court is currently soliciting amicus briefs. Click the link above to view amicus invitations.