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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1381 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1032
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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Vincent Lawrence Dixon60 Lake Street Unit N, Winchester MA
01890 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1381 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1032
By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1032) of Vincent
Lawrence Dixon for legislation to provide for the improvement of required standards of Clerk
Magistrates. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1078 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 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:
1 SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
2 following new chapter :An Act to provide for the Improvement of Required Standards of
3Clerk Magistrates.
4 1.) Massachusetts, having developed a unique system of Clerk Magistrates, has found
5certain inconsistencies, in this system. While this system, under various reviews, may experience
6significant alteration, few voices likely are opposed to the improvement of standards, held byt
7hose individuals appointed to these positions.
8 2.) Therefore, this Statute, establishes, and encourages, a particular additional educational
9standard: All Clerk Magistrates, appointed after the implementation of this Act, shall have proof 2 of 2
10of graduation, with an earned degree, from an accredited graduate Law School. In addition,
11current
12 Clerk Magistrates, shall be encouraged to earn a graduate Law Degree, from an
13accredited Law School, if they do not have one. If they do so, within seven years of the
14implementation of this statute, they may receive a ten-percent upward incentive bonus, for
15 having done so; since doing so, may benefit themselves, and the public respect for the
16legal system.
17 3.) All individuals, meeting the requirements of this Act, shall receive additional training,
18and regular update training, on a yearly basis, as specified in such needed regulations, as the
19Attorney General, shall create, and monitor, in conjunction with the relevant supervising
20 justices, of each appropriately defined judicial system, in the Commonwealth.