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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1698 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1761
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Russell E. Holmes
_________________
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 designating the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal Court as the George Lewis
Ruffin Courthouse.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Russell E. Holmes6th Suffolk1/15/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1698 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1761
By Representative Holmes of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1761) of
Russell E. Holmes for legislation to designate the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal
Court as the George Lewis Ruffin courthouse. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1552 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act designating the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal Court as the George Lewis
Ruffin Courthouse.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The Charlestown District courthouse in the city of Charlestown shall be designated and
2known as the George Lewis Ruffin Courthouse in honor of the honorable George Lewis Ruffin,
3the first African American to graduate from Harvard Law School, first African American to
4serve on the Boston City Council, elected to the Massachusetts Legislature in 1870, and the first
5African American Judge in the United States that was appointed in 1883 and served in the
6Charlestown District Court, for his many contributions to the judiciary, the bar and the people of
7the city of Boston. The division of capital asset management and maintenance shall erect and
8maintain suitable markers bearing the designation in compliance with the standards of the
9division