SENATE DOCKET, NO. 68        FILED ON: 1/10/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 987

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Anne M. Gobi

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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 establishing a commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 68        FILED ON: 1/10/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 987

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1040 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act establishing a commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth.

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. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary there shall be a special commission on judicial accountability to study the nomination, selection, appointment, and oversight of judges in the Commonwealth and to develop recommendations to improve accountability including reappointment standards.

The special commission shall consist of: three members to be appointed by the governor; two members of the House of Representatives, one of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; two members of the Senate, one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; the president of the Massachusetts Bar Association or their designee; the president of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts or their designee; president of the Barnstable Bar Association or their designee; the president of the Berkshire County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Boston Bar Association or their designee; president of the Bristol County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Essex County Bar Association or their designee; the president of the Franklin County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Hampden County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Hampshire County Bar Association or their designee; president of the League of Women Voters or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Judges Conference or their designee; president of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association or their designee; president of the Middlesex Bar Association or their designee; president of the  Norfolk County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Plymouth County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Suffolk County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Woman’s Bar Association or their designee; and the president of the Worcester County Bar Association or their designee.

The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair and any other officers it deems necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, other than as may be already provided for due to their position outside the commission. The commission may receive such funds to carry out its mission as may be authorized and appropriated or donated from time to time. The commission may request from all state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require, which shall be provided as promptly as is reasonably practicable. The commission may: (i) use such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed; (ii) hold regular, public meetings and fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it may consider necessary. The commission shall convene its first meeting within one month of appointment and shall submit its first report of recommendations not later than December 1, 2024 to the clerks of the House of  Representatives and the Senate who shall forward a copy of the report to the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.