Judicial Profiles
Image credit: Massachusetts Court System
Chief Justice
Supreme Judicial Court
John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square, Suite 2500
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-8130
Judicial Biography
Born:
1954, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Year admitted to bar:
1987
Year appointed/elected:
2009; Became chief justice in 2014; Appointed and elevated, by Gov. Deval L. Patrick
Bench Service:
Superior Court (1997-2008)
Background
Education:
Harvard Law School, 1980
Harvard College, 1976
Cambridge University, diplomate in criminology, 1977
Participation as a Faculty Member or Lecturer:
Lecturer, Harvard Law School.
Professional
Legal Employment History:
Counsel and partner, Palmer & Dodge (1991-1997);
Assistant U.S. attorney (1983-1991) (chief, Public Corruption Division, 1988-1991);
Special assistant, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director William H. Webster (1981-1983);
Law clerk, U.S. District Court Judge Eugene Nickerson, Eastern District of New York (1980-1981).
- Reported Decisions
- Other Links
Evaluations from Lawyers
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Comments
1) Show the judge youre working with him to resolve the dispute before him, but expect the unexpexted on occasion.
2) Tremendously conscientious. Demonstrates profound respect for the law and his judicial responsibilities, and for improving the workings of the trial court and the administration of justice. Sometimes goes off on tangents in deciding cases, so that while the judges knowledge of the law is excellent, his rulings are sometimes surprising. If he gets an idea in his head about a case, its hard to change it.
3) Judge Gants is clearly very capable but devotes his attention to cases that draw his personal interest. When he draws a case which, in his view, does not merit his attention, he fails to prepare, ignores governing precedent, and applies facile reasoning to dispatch the case.
4) Be very knowledgeable on the rules, law etc… go prepared to defend your position in court.
5) Probably the smartest judge in the Superior Court. He personifies intellectualism but not in an off putting manner. He has rigorous expectations of counsel including being succinct and respectful of court time.
6) Go well prepared. Judge Gants will most likely have read the papers. Prepare to argue on policy or fairness grounds if your position is not crystal clear on the law or procedure.
7) Judge Gants is a smart and dedicate judge who listens intently to the arguments and presentations before him. Sometimes I feel as though Judge Gants disregards the law or procedural steps in order to achieve what he thinks is “fair.”
8) Dont waste time on arguments or briefs that dont pass the “laugh test”
Judge Gants will entertain serious papers but is not afraid to reprimand a lawyers if an argument is not well grounded in the law.
9) Judge Gants is an outstanding jurist who is not afraid of dealing with
dispositive motions in order to move a complex case along. He has been thoroughly prepared and has read lengthy briefs (in our case both a motion to dismiss and later a motion for summary judgment)
before conducting hearings. He is smart, respectful.
10) Focus on the interesting legal issues.
11) Committed to understanding the law, extremely well prepared. Too liberal on evidence and lawyers digressions.
12) Be prepared with legal arguments and understand facts of case. Judge reviews papers before hearings.
13) Judge is very intelligent and attentive to details. Runs motion hearings and other matters effectively and with proper attention to legal arguments. Allows attorneys time and opportunity to respond to questions and concerns regarding issues in the case. Case has not come to trial yet so comment on some questions above is not appropriate at this time, but this Judge has an excellent courtroom demeanor.
14) Be prepared for questions.
Answer questions
15) Finest judge in superior court
