Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ highest court is called the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The court has six justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen according to the same procedures as the associate justices. (Source: Supreme Judicial Court Justices)
Judicial Selection
The governor nominates candidates to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The governor receives a list of candidates from a judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority vote of the governor’s council, consisting of elected district representatives and the lieutenant governor. An appointed justice serves a single term until mandatory retirement at age 70. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor receives a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority vote of the governor’s council. An appointed justice serves a single term until mandatory retirement at age 70.
State Constitution
Massachusetts’ first and only constitution was adopted in 1780. As of January 1, 2024, it had 121 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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What’s Next for the Next Generation of Environmental Rights Cases?
Young people are building on lessons learned in recent litigation, using state constitutions and laws to develop and enforce environmental protections.
How Courts Oversee Ballot Initiatives
State courts — and to some degree federal courts — play a significant role in every stage of the direct democracy process.
New Year Scholarship Roundup: Federal-State Conflict, State Courts, and Election Administration
Several new articles explore state power in times of federal-state and interstate conflict.
Michigan High Court Could Break New Ground in Limiting Excessive Sentences
Michigan could be the first state to rule that life-without-parole sentences for people convicted of “felony murder” are unconstitutional.
Who’s Hiring State Supreme Court Clerks?
State-by-state information to aid law students and young attorneys in securing a state clerkship.
Voting Rights and Democracy in State Courts
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Power of State Constitutional Rights
State Constitutional Amendments and State Conventions
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Power of State Constitutional Rights
The Diversity of Rights in State Constitutions
Transcript of panel from Symposium: The Power of State Constitutional Rights