Image credit: Vin Catania

Central Division

Boston Municipal Court

Brooke Courthourse
24 Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02109

Phone: (617) 788-8700

Judicial Biography

Year admitted to bar:

1977

Year appointed/elected:

1994, by Gov. William F. Weld

Background

Education:

Boston College Law School, 1976
Connecticut College, 1970

Participation as a Faculty Member or Lecturer:

Past instructor, Government Lawyer Program, Harvard Law School.

Professional

Legal Employment History:

Assistant attorney general, Attorney General’s Office (1988-1994);
Assistant district attorney, Middlesex County (1981-1988);
Staff counsel, Massachusetts Senate (1977-1981);
Hearing examiner, Brookline Rent Control Board (1976-1977).

Civic and Community Activities

Appointive or Elective Positions Held:

Member, Brookline Town Meeting (1980-1990);
Member, Brookline Rent Control Board (1985-1988);
Member, Brookline Town Advisory Committee (1982-1985).

Memberships/Affiliations:

Massachusetts Bar Association;
Boston Bar Association;
Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts (president, 1991-1992).

Reported Decisions
Other Links

Evaluations from Lawyers

4 = Excellent 3 = Good 2 = Fair 1 = Poor

	rating	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Manages court time in a way that minimizes waiting around:	1.0	2.7	3.0
Is receptive to requests for continuances:	2.0	2.8	2.9
Is receptive to lawyers’ requests for jury instructions and voir dire questions:	0.0	3.1	3.1
Presents easy-to-follow and legally sound instructions to jury:	0.0	3.2	3.2
Gives lawyers an opportunity to be heard prior to making legal findings and rulings:	2.0	2.9	3.1
Explains decisions in a manner that is clear to litigants and jurors:	2.0	3.1	3.0
Addresses the following with respect
a) litigants and witnesses:	2.0	3.1	3.2
b) lawyers:	2.0	2.9	3.0
c) court staff:	3.0	3.2	3.5
Attentiveness:	2.0	3.5	3.2
Timeliness of orders, judgments and decisions:	0.0	3.5	3.2
Demonstrates knowledge of substantive law and rules of evidence:	1.0	2.9	3.0
Quality of written decisions:	0.0	3.3	2.9
Shows willingness to ignore
a) irrelevant considerations:	0.0	3.1	2.9
c) identity of lawyers or parties:	0.0	3.1	3.0
d) public pressure or outside interests:	0.0	3.2	3.2
Has ability to maintain control of courtroom:	3.0	3.5	3.4
Starts session on schedule and on time:	3.0	3.4	3.2
Shows an appropriate degree of preparedness:	2.0	3.2	3.1
Average Overall Rating:	1.3	3.1	3.1

	% Yes Answer	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Regularly keeps sessions past 4 p.m.:	0	41	26
Allows lawyers to lobby their cases in chambers:	0	26	47
Is rigid follower of court-mandated time standards:	0	29	45
Behaves differently when cameras are in the courtroom:	0	0	24

Comments

1) You are in for a long day.

2) Is not overly bright and is reluctant to stick her neck out. Never smiles. Is a prosecution judge.

Judicial Profiles

Bernstein, Patricia E. (retired)