SENATE DOCKET, NO. 830        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1078

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing for the improvement of required standards of Clerk Magistrates.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 830        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1078

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 972 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act providing for the improvement of required standards of Clerk Magistrates.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the

following new chapter:

An Act to provide for the Improvement of Required Standards of Clerk Magistrates.

1.) Massachusetts, having developed a unique system of Clerk Magistrates, has found certain

inconsistencies, in this system. While this system, under various reviews, may experience

significant alteration, few voices likely are opposed to the improvement of standards, held by

those individuals appointed to these positions.

2.) Therefore, this Statute, establishes, and encourages, a particular additional educational

standard: All Clerk Magistrates, appointed after the implementation of this Act, shall have

proof of graduation, with an earned degree, from an accredited graduate Law School.

In addition, current Clerk Magistrates, shall be encouraged to earn a graduate Law Degree,

from an accredited Law School, if they do not have one. If they do so, within seven years of the

implementation of this statute, they may receive a ten-percent upward incentive bonus, for

having done so; since doing so, may benefit themselves, and the public respect for the legal

system.

3.) All individuals, meeting the requirements of this Act, shall receive additional training,

and regular update training, on a yearly basis, as specified in such needed regulations, as the

Attorney General, shall create, and monitor, in conjunction with the relevant supervising

justices, of each appropriately defined judicial system, in the Commonwealth.