Southeast Division

Housing Court

289 Rock St., Second Floor
Fall River, MA 02720-3246

Phone: (508) 677-1505

Fax: (508) 672-9716

Judicial Biography

Born:

Aug. 28, 1949, Yokohama, Japan

Year admitted to bar:

1985

Year appointed/elected:

2002, by Gov. Jane Swift

Bench Service:

Housing Court, 2002-2018

Background

Education:

Boston College Law School, 1984
Harvard College, 1971

Publications:

Author, “Urban Decline in Boston: Reality or Illusion?” Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (1983).

Professional

Legal Employment History:

Partner, McKenzie & Edwards (1989-2002);
Associate, Roche, Carens & DeGiacomo (1984-1989)

General Character of Law Practice Prior to Judgeship:

Leasing, landlord/tenant matters and construction violations.

Civic and Community Activities

Honors:

Outstanding service to community award, Caribbean Foundation of Boston (2001)

Memberships/Affiliations:

Massachusetts Bar Association
Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (secretary, 1986)
Massachusetts Conveyancers Association

Reported Decisions

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:	3.5	3.4	3.0
Is receptive to requests for continuances:	3.5	3.5	2.9
Is receptive to lawyers’ requests for jury instructions and voir dire questions:	4.0	3.6	3.1
Presents easy-to-follow and legally sound instructions to jury:	0.0	3.7	3.2
Gives lawyers an opportunity to be heard prior to making legal findings and rulings:	4.0	3.5	3.1
Explains decisions in a manner that is clear to litigants and jurors:	4.0	3.5	3.0
Addresses the following with respect
a) litigants and witnesses:	4.0	3.5	3.2
b) lawyers:	4.0	3.4	3.0
c) court staff:	4.0	3.7	3.5
Attentiveness:	4.0	3.6	3.2
Timeliness of orders, judgments and decisions:	3.5	3.6	3.2
Demonstrates knowledge of substantive law and rules of evidence:	4.0	3.6	3.0
Quality of written decisions:	4.0	3.5	2.9
Shows willingness to ignore
a) irrelevant considerations:	3.0	3.4	2.9
c) identity of lawyers or parties:	4.0	3.6	3.0
d) public pressure or outside interests:	4.0	3.8	3.2
Has ability to maintain control of courtroom:	3.5	3.8	3.4
Starts session on schedule and on time:	2.5	3.4	3.2
Shows an appropriate degree of preparedness:	3.5	3.5	3.1
Average Overall Rating:	3.5	3.6	3.1

	% Yes Answer	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Regularly keeps sessions past 4 p.m.:	0	10	26
Allows lawyers to lobby their cases in chambers:	0	42	47
Is rigid follower of court-mandated time standards:	0	48	45
Behaves differently when cameras are in the courtroom:	0	15	24

Comments

1) Be prepared and show courtesy. Everyone will have an opportunity to speak – just be patient.

2) Excellent Jurist. Very thoughtful – very mindful of the often harsh realities of housing court decisions. Shows compassion to tenants but does not ignore the plight of landlords.

3) Be ready to be clear, concise and flexible, and to outline briefly what you have already done in order to attempt to resolve the case prior to court. Provide documentary evidence of that effort where possible.

4) Judge is compassionate to tenants, but respectful to all, respects the needs of both parties to be heard. Decides the case based on the flexibility allowed within the law and the circumstanes of the parties. Does not appear to favor tenants OR landlords – but is fair to both.

Judicial Profiles

Edwards, Wilbur P. Jr. (retired)