Invitations to Comment
The court invites comments on the following new rules or proposed changes to existing rules. Invitations to comment that have expired are removed from the list.
Notice Inviting Comment on Proposal to Amend and Repeal Appeals Court Rules and Standing Orders and to Establish the Massachusetts Appeals Court Rules
Comments due by: October 31, 2019
Notice Inviting Comment on Proposed Amendments to Mass. Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 19(b)
Comments due by: September 27, 2019
Notice Inviting Comment on Proposed Amendments to Rule 55 of the Mass. Rules of Civil Procedure
Comments due by: August 16, 2019
Notice Inviting Comment on Proposed Amendment to Superior Court Rule 64: Appellate Division, Procedure and Forms
Comments due by: June 21, 2019
Rule Changes
The following are recent notices of rule changes and the date when each rule change goes into effect. Rule changes are removed from this list after the effective date has passed. Please refer to the Court's online listing of Rules of Court and Standing Orders to view updated rules and dates when rules were amended.
Supreme Judicial Court Order Regarding Amount-in-Controversy Requirement Under G.L. c. 218, s. 19 and G.L. c.212, s. 3
Effective: January 1, 2020
Amendments to the Rules of the Commission on Judicial Conduct Rule 12
Effective: October 1, 2019
Supreme Judicial Court Order Governing Appeals From Convictions of Murder in the First Degree
Effective: September 4, 2019
Supreme Judicial Court Order and Reporter's Notes - Amendment of Mass. Rules of Criminal Procedure New Rule 12(b)(6)
Effective: September 1, 2019
Repeal of current Rules of the Clients' Security Board and approval of new Rules of the Clients' Security Board
Effective: September 1, 2019
Supreme Judicial Court Order Amending Chapter Four of the Rules of the Supreme Judicial Court (Rule 4:04; Rule 4:05; Rule 4:06: Rule 4:08; Rule 4:09)
Effective: September 1, 2019
Superior Court Standing Order 2-87 (Electronic Recordation of Proceedings) Rescinded
Effective: June 10, 2019
A listing of Rules of Court and Standing Orders are available on the court's website. Please note that not all Massachusetts Rules of Court are available online. Efforts have been taken to ensure accuracy in all rules on the court's website, but if there are discrepancies between the electronic versions of the rules found on the website and the official print versions that appear in a volume such as Massachusetts Reports, the print version should be considered authoritative.