Policy Statement  Policy regarding commemorative or expressive works in Massachusetts courthouses

Date:	12/01/2017
Organization:	Executive Office of the Trial Court
Referenced Sources:	Internal court policies

Policy

1. This policy governs the display of any portrait, sculpture, plaque, or other commemorative or expressive work (“work”) in a public area of a Massachusetts courthouse. Public areas include courtrooms, hallways, and other spaces to which the public has access as of right.  Public areas do not include judges’ lobbies, staff offices, administrative offices of the departments of the Trial Court, or hallways or other areas to which access is restricted.  
2. In the John Adams Courthouse, on the first and second floor, no work may be displayed in a public area without the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.
3. In the John Adams Courthouse, on the third floor, no work may be displayed in a public area without the approval of the Chief Justice of the Appeals Court.
4. Where only one Trial Court department sits in a courthouse, no work may be displayed in a public area of the courthouse without the approval of the Chief Justice of that Trial Court department.  
5. Where more than one Trial Court department sits in a courthouse, no work may be displayed in a public area of the courthouse without approval pursuant to such policy for governance of multi-department courthouses as may be established by the Chief Justice of the Trial Court.
6. The decision to approve or disapprove the display of a work in a courthouse is committed to the sound discretion of the Chief Justice specified herein.