Boston Municipal Courts, Massachusetts
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The Boston Municipal Courts are trial courts in Massachusetts that have concurrent jurisdiction with the superior court in all criminal cases that do not provide for a state prison sentence in excess of five years, and over certain specified crimes for which the maximum penalty exceeds five years. The court also has general civil jurisdiction. Jury cases are tried to juries of six.[1][2]
These municipal courts also have civil jurisdiction over many specialized proceedings, including petitions for involuntary mental health commitments and medication orders,[3] appeals from certain state administrative agencies, and actions to evict tenants. The court has concurrent jurisdiction, along with the superior court and probate and family court, over petitions for abuse prevention orders, and with the superior court over actions for harassment prevention orders.[4][5]
The geographic jurisdiction of the court encompasses the city of Boston and the town of Winthrop; all other communities in Massachusetts are served by divisions of the district court department. The city is divided into eight judicial districts, and Boston Municipal Court Department divisions are located in the following sections of Boston: Brighton, Charlestown, Downtown (Central), Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury. The town of Winthrop and Logan International Airport are both within the jurisdiction of the East Boston division. The Boston Harbor islands are within the jurisdiction of the Central, Charlestown, East Boston and South Boston divisions.[6]
Judges
Former judges
- Patricia E. Bernstein
- Raymond G. Dougan, Jr.
- Annette Forde
- Serge Georges Jr.
- Charles R. Johnson
- Paul J. McManus
- Robert N. Tochka
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Jurisdiction," accessed October 8, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Trials by Jury," accessed October 8, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "See, M.G.L. c.123," accessed October 8, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Abuse Prevention Orders," accessed October 8, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Harassment Prevention Orders," accessed October 8, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Harbor Islands Jurisdiction," accessed October 8, 2014
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Massachusetts • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Massachusetts
State courts:
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court • Massachusetts Appeals Court • Massachusetts Superior Courts • Massachusetts District Courts • Massachusetts Housing Courts • Massachusetts Juvenile Courts • Massachusetts Land Courts • Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts • Boston Municipal Courts, Massachusetts
State resources:
Courts in Massachusetts • Massachusetts judicial elections • Judicial selection in Massachusetts
