Massachusetts SD 1384: An Act providing for the development of a graduate judicial training school

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1384 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1033

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 development of a graduate judicial training school.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Vincent Lawrence Dixon

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1384 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1033
By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1033) of Vincent
Lawrence Dixon for legislation to provide for the development of a graduate judicial training
school. The Judiciary.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1081 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 providing for the development of a graduate judicial training school.

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

1 SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
2 following new chapter:
3 An Act to Provide for the Development of a Graduate Judicial Training School.
4 1.) Massachusetts, has been a leader in the advancement of law, while respecting the
5 great foundations of law, that goes back centuries. As time has evolved, societies, and laws, our
6 Commonwealth has allowed, encouraged, and benefitted from the creation of a number of high
7 quality accredited Graduate Law Schools.
8 2a.) In similar manner, as society has become more sophisticated, concerns have grown
9 regarding the quality of judges, and judging. Thus, it seems reasonable, logical, and appropriate,

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10 that there be considered, the creation of a Graduate Judicial Training School. Such a school
11 should be established; at first to develop highest quality continuing education for current judges;
12 and shortly thereafter, to develop an entry-level, professional training academy, graduate school
13 to train capable, and talented individuals to be judges.
14 2b.) Those eligible to be trained as judges, should be graduates of accredited Law
15 Schools, and study at least one, to two years, in advanced training on the nature of judging,
16 society, and effective and fair legal systems. Such training, shall include specific training
17 regarding the responsibilities, authorities, history, and appropriate training, relevant to making
18 decisions, as a judge, in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
19 3.) It should be the intent of developing such a Graduate Judicial Training School, to
20 facilitate the highest quality improvement of all judges, and legal hearing officers of The
21 Commonwealth, so that ultimately, all such appointments, are drawn from graduates of a
22 Massachusetts Graduate Judicial Training School, or a similar such qualifying program.
23 4a.) In order to move in the direction of establishing a Graduate Judicial Training School,
24 for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, an Advisory Board for a Graduate Judicial Training
25 School, shall be appointed, consisting of:
26 Three (3) members appointed by the Governor, three (3) members appointed by the
27 Attorney General of Massachusetts; and one member each, who are the Deans of all accredited
28 Law Schools within Massachusetts (or their appointed designees).
29 4b.) This Advisory Board, shall select from its membership, a Chair, a Vice Chair; and
30 shall have such appropriate public hearings, in suitable, and several locations, across The
31 Commonwealth, as may facilitate significant, and appropriate public, and expert testimony.

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32 5.) This Board shall convene, over a period of three (3) years, and make important
33 recommendations as to how to establish such a school, and also consider a long-term plan to
34 convert the judicial appointment process, and that for all legal hearing officers, to the
35 appointment of trained judges, educated by this process.