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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1635 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1727
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Orlando Ramos and Carlos González
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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Orlando Ramos9th Hampden1/18/2023Carlos González10th Hampden1/18/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1635 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1727
By Representatives Ramos of Springfield and González of Springfield, a petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 1727) of Orlando Ramos and Carlos González for legislation to establish a
commission to study judicial accountability in the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1843 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:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary there shall be a
2special commission on judicial accountability to study the nomination, selection, appointment,
3and oversight of judges in the Commonwealth and to develop recommendations to improve
4accountability including reappointment standards.
5 The special commission shall consist of: three members to be appointed by the governor;
6two members of the House of Representatives, one of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of
7the House of Representatives, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; two members
8of the Senate, one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and the other to be
9appointed by the minority leader; the president of the Massachusetts Bar Association or their
10designee; the president of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts or their 2 of 3
11designee; president of the Barnstable Bar Association or their designee; the president of the
12Berkshire County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Boston Bar Association or
13their designee; president of the Bristol County Bar Association or their designee; president of the
14Essex County Bar Association or their designee; the president of the Franklin County Bar
15Association or their designee; president of the Hampden County Bar Association or their
16designee; president of the Hampshire County Bar Association or their designee; president of the
17League of Women Voters or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Association of
18Hispanic Attorneys or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Association of Women
19Lawyers or their designee; president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association or their
20designee; president of the Massachusetts Judges Conference or their designee; president of the
21Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association or their designee; president of the Middlesex Bar
22Association or their designee; president of the Norfolk County Bar Association or their
23designee; president of the Plymouth County Bar Association or their designee; president of the
24Suffolk County Bar Association or their designee; president of the Woman’s Bar Association or
25their designee; and the president of the Worcester County Bar Association or their designee.
26 The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair and any other
27officers it deems necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
28their services, other than as may be already provided for due to their position outside the
29commission. The commission may receive such funds to carry out its mission as may be
30authorized and appropriated or donated from time to time. The commission may request from all
31state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require, which shall be
32provided as promptly as is reasonably practicable. The commission may: (i) use such voluntary
33and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time 3 of 3
34to time be offered and needed; (ii) hold regular, public meetings and fact-finding hearings and
35other public forums as it may consider necessary. The commission shall convene its first meeting
36within one month of appointment and shall submit its first report of recommendations not later
37than December 1, 2021 to the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate who shall
38forward a copy of the report to the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on the
39Judiciary.