Clinton

District Court

Routes 62 & 70
300 Boylston St.
Clinton, MA 01510

Phone: (978) 368-7811

Fax: (978) 368-7827

Judicial Biography

Born:

June 1, 1948, Ayer

Year admitted to bar:

1975

Year appointed/elected:

2001, by Gov. Jane M. Swift

Background

Education:

Suffolk University Law School, 1975
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1970

Professional

Legal Employment History:

Private practitioner, Ayer (1995-2001)
Senior partner, Gardner, Brown & Williams, Ayer (1993-1995)
Senior partner, Gardner & Brown, Ayer (1988-1993)
Senior partner, Gardner & Finkle, Ayer (1982-1988)
Sole practitioner, Ayer (1975-1982)
Special town counsel, Town of Ayer (1997-2001)
Temporary first assistant clerk, First District Court of Northern Middlesex (1975-1976)
Town counsel, Town of Ayer (1978-1997)

Civic and Community Activities

Appointive or Elective Positions Held:

Hearing officer, Board of Bar Overseers, Eastern Region (1994-2001)
Member, Board of Directors, Massachusetts Government Land Bank (gubernatorial appointment) (1994-2001)
Member, Ayer Planning Board (1975-1976)

Memberships/Affiliations:

Massachusetts Mar Association
Fellow, Massachusetts Bar Foundation
Boston Bar Association
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
Massachusetts Conveyancers Association
New Hampshire Bar Association
Greater Lowell Bar Association
City Solicitors and Town Counsel Association
Northern Middlesex Bar Association
Suffolk University Law School Alumni Association
University of Massachusetts Alumni Association
Ayer Library Board of Trustees;
Association of the United States Army
Board of Trustees, Deaconess Nashoba Community Hospital
Executive Board, Boy Scouts of America, Nashua Valley Council.

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:	1.0	3.0	3.0
Is receptive to requests for continuances:	2.0	2.9	2.9
Is receptive to lawyers’ requests for jury instructions and voir dire questions:	0.0	3.0	3.1
Presents easy-to-follow and legally sound instructions to jury:	0.0	3.1	3.2
Gives lawyers an opportunity to be heard prior to making legal findings and rulings:	4.0	3.1	3.1
Explains decisions in a manner that is clear to litigants and jurors:	0.0	3.0	3.0
Addresses the following with respect
a) litigants and witnesses:	4.0	3.2	3.2
b) lawyers:	4.0	3.0	3.0
c) court staff:	4.0	3.4	3.5
Attentiveness:	4.0	3.3	3.2
Timeliness of orders, judgments and decisions:	0.0	3.3	3.2
Demonstrates knowledge of substantive law and rules of evidence:	2.0	3.0	3.0
Quality of written decisions:	0.0	3.0	2.9
Shows willingness to ignore
a) irrelevant considerations:	2.0	2.9	2.9
c) identity of lawyers or parties:	4.0	3.0	3.0
d) public pressure or outside interests:	2.0	3.1	3.2
Has ability to maintain control of courtroom:	0.0	3.5	3.4
Starts session on schedule and on time:	4.0	3.3	3.2
Shows an appropriate degree of preparedness:	4.0	3.2	3.1
Average Overall Rating:	2.2	3.1	3.1

	% Yes Answer	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Regularly keeps sessions past 4 p.m.:	100	31	26
Allows lawyers to lobby their cases in chambers:	100	65	47
Is rigid follower of court-mandated time standards:	100	48	45
Behaves differently when cameras are in the courtroom:	0	24	24

Comments

1) a wonderful person who is too cautious in dispositions and goes to slowly

Judicial Profiles

GARDNER, ROBERT W. JR.