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General Laws

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Section 1Territorial jurisdiction and place of holding court
Section 2Boston municipal courts; concurrent jurisdiction over waters and islands
Section 2ATransfer of civil actions brought in wrong court
Section 3Boston municipal courts; concurrent criminal jurisdiction over waters and islands
Section 4District court jurisdiction; seals
Section 5Contempt cases; service of process
Section 6Justices; number; terms; compensation; duties
Section 6ASpecial justices of district court; certification of full time duties; restrictions on employment
Section 7Oaths; power to administer
Section 8Clerks; appointment; number; retirement; vacation and sick leave
Section 9Temporary clerks
Section 10Assistant clerks
Section 10ADeputy assistant clerks; power to designate
Section 11Temporary assistant clerks
Section 12Clerks; oath of office; duties and powers
Section 13Records; storage
Section 14Facsimile signatures
Section 15Times for holding trials; office hours
Section 16Bond of clerk
Section 17Justice, clerk or assistant clerk; restrictions on practice of law; special justices; restrictions on hearing or trying cases
Section 18Justices and clerks; receipt of certain fees; prohibition
Section 19General provisions
Section 19ADistrict court or Boston municipal court; statement of facts in support of civil action for damages; dismissal; appeals
Section 19BDistrict court or Boston municipal court; trial by jury of six; appeals
Section 19CDistrict court jurisdiction; equity powers and rules
Section 19DHousing specialists; appointment; knowledge requisites; powers and duties
Section 20Actions against executors and administrators, and against bail
Section 21Power to establish rules of procedure; venue; jurisdictional amount; hearings; damages and penalties
Section 22Procedure
Section 23Initial determination of cause; removal; claim for trial by jury; bond or deposit; finding as evidence; report to appellate division
Section 24Transfer to regular docket
Section 25Costs; discretion of court
Section 26General provisions
Section 26ATrial by jury; discovery; jury-waived trial; record of proceedings; probation
Section 27Imposition of penalties
Section 27AJury sessions
Section 28Recognizances to keep peace
Section 29Repealed, 1964, 308, Sec. 10
Section 30Binding over to superior court
Section 31Repealed, 1992, 379, Sec. 142
Section 32Complaints and warrants
Section 33Warrants and process; power of clerks to issue
Section 34Arrest without warrant; endorsement of complaint by arresting officer
Section 35Complaints, warrants and process; power to issue; disqualification to hear case; destruction of applications for complaints
Section 35AProcess; issuance on complaints for misdemeanors; consideration of criminal records and domestic violence records; right to hearing
Section 36Justice of peace; taking bail
Section 37Process for witnesses and defendants in criminal and juvenile cases; direction and service
Section 38Access to courts; sittings; adjournments; filing of complaints
Section 39Books and supplies
Section 40Part-time special justices; authorized cases
Section 41Special justice; powers and duties
Section 42Adjournment when justice absent
Section 42AAdministrative head of district court department
Section 42BDeputy court administrator
Section 43Uniform rules of practice and procedure; power to make and promulgate
Section 43AUniform practices; forms; superintendence of record keeping
Section 43BOfficial forms; powers of chief justice
Section 43CRepealed, 1978, 478, Sec. 199
Section 43DRepealed, 1993, 478, Sec. 7
Section 43ECommunity mediation advisory board; coordinator
Section 44Process; formal requisites; territorial jurisdiction
Section 45, 46Repealed, 1975, 377, Sec. 15
Section 47Clerks; duty to make payments and to account; penalty
Section 48Sentences to Deer Island
Section 49Clerks; duty to pay certain fees; advances; accounting
Section 50Justices; number; vacation and sick leave; rule making power
Section 51Repealed, 1978, 478, Sec. 205
Section 51AAdministrative head of Boston municipal court department; appointment of first justice; allowance of bills
Section 52Justices and special justices; assignment; additional sessions; compensation, etc.
Section 52AClerks; criminal and civil business
Section 53Clerks and assistant clerks
Section 53ATemporary assistant clerks
Section 54Civil jurisdiction
Section 55Recording systems; stenographic and medical services and equipment
Section 56Clerks; accounting; penalty
Section 57Juvenile courts; divisions; territorial jurisdiction; appeals
Section 57AChief justice; administrative head of juvenile court system; executive secretary; powers and duties
Section 57BDeputy court administrator for the juvenile court department
Section 58Justices and clerks; assignment; salaries; vacation and sick leave; interpreters
Section 58AAdministrative assistant for intergovernmental relations
Section 58BSpecial justices of Boston juvenile court; certification of full-time duties; restrictions on employment
Section 58CSpecial justices of juvenile court
Section 59Powers, duties and procedure; jurisdiction
Section 60Jurisdiction over offenders; rule making power
Section 61 to 65Repealed, 1992, 379, Sec. 168
Section 66Boston municipal court department; messenger
Section 67Boston municipal court; interpreters
Section 68East Boston division of the Boston municipal court department; interpreter
Section 69Clerks of divisions of district court department; allowance for assistance
Section 70Clerks of Boston municipal and juvenile court departments; allowance for assistance
Section 71 to 73Repealed, 1922, 399, Sec. 3
Section 74Monthly installments
Section 75, 75ARepealed, 1978, 478, Sec. 224
Section 75BSalaries of assistant clerks of Boston municipal court department
Section 76, 76ARepealed, 1978, 478, Sec. 224
Section 77Repealed, 1955, 741, Sec. 1A
Section 77A, 77BRepealed, 1978, 478, Sec. 224
Section 78Repealed, 1975, 863, Sec. 6
Section 79Salaries of clerks
Section 80Compensation of assistant clerks; practice of law
Section 80ABoston municipal court department; salaries of secretary and assistant secretary to justices
Section 81Traveling expenses
Section 82Repealed, 1956, 738, Sec. 8
Section 82ARepealed, 1969, 867, Sec. 2
Section 83Repealed, 1931, 301, Sec. 36
Section 84Computation of compensation