Supreme Judicial Court

Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 788-8130

Judicial Biography

Born:

Oct. 29, 1947

Year admitted to bar:

1971

Year appointed/elected:

2001, by Gov. A. Paul Cellucci to Superior Court; elevated to SJC by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2014

Bench Service:

Superior Court (2001-2013); Appeals Court (2013-2014)

Background

Education:

University of Wisconsin School of Law, 1971
Tougaloo College, 1968

Publications:

Author, chapter on attorneys’ fees, “Federal Civil Litigation in the 1st Circuit,” MCLE (1995);
Author, “A Practical Overview of the Civil Rights Act of 1991,” Boston Bar Association/Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights Under the Law (1992);
Author, “Police Misconduct Litigation,” Massachusetts Bar Association (1991).

Participation as a Faculty Member or Lecturer:

Adjunct facutly, Northeastern University School of Law (1980-present).

Professional

Legal Employment History:

Partner, Burnham & Hines (1989-2001);
Sole practitioner (1985-1989);
Partner, Kendall & Hines (1984-1985);
Partner, Kendall, Johnson & Hines (1982-1984);
Staff attorney, Center for Law & Education, Harvard University (1979-1982);
Legal consultant (1978-1979);
Fellow, Community Fellows Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1977-1978);
Director, deputy director and staff attorney, Roxbury Defenders Committee (1973-1977);
Staff attorney/Reginald Heber Smith fellow, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (1971-1973).

Civic and Community Activities

Memberships/Affiliations:

Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys;
National Conference of Black Lawyers;
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law;
Lawyers Against Apartheid.

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:	4.0	3.2	3.0
Is receptive to requests for continuances:	3.0	2.9	2.9
Is receptive to lawyers’ requests for jury instructions and voir dire questions:	4.0	3.2	3.1
Presents easy-to-follow and legally sound instructions to jury:	4.0	3.3	3.2
Gives lawyers an opportunity to be heard prior to making legal findings and rulings:	4.0	3.2	3.1
Explains decisions in a manner that is clear to litigants and jurors:	4.0	3.2	3.0
Addresses the following with respect
a) litigants and witnesses:	4.0	3.4	3.2
b) lawyers:	4.0	3.2	3.0
c) court staff:	4.0	3.6	3.5
Attentiveness:	4.0	3.4	3.2
Timeliness of orders, judgments and decisions:	4.0	3.2	3.2
Demonstrates knowledge of substantive law and rules of evidence:	4.0	3.0	3.0
Quality of written decisions:	3.0	2.8	2.9
Shows willingness to ignore
a) irrelevant considerations:	3.0	3.0	2.9
c) identity of lawyers or parties:	3.0	3.3	3.0
d) public pressure or outside interests:	0.0	3.4	3.2
Has ability to maintain control of courtroom:	4.0	3.5	3.4
Starts session on schedule and on time:	4.0	3.4	3.2
Shows an appropriate degree of preparedness:	4.0	3.2	3.1
Average Overall Rating:	3.6	3.2	3.1

	% Yes Answer	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Regularly keeps sessions past 4 p.m.:	0	23	26
Allows lawyers to lobby their cases in chambers:	0	47	47
Is rigid follower of court-mandated time standards:	0	39	45
Behaves differently when cameras are in the courtroom:	0	21	24

Comments

1) Be straight. Judge Hines does not take kindly to any real or perceived attempts to bend or push the rules. Note too that she is not very proactive in settling cases, so you should not expect much help from the bench in that regard.

2) Judge Hines has a tremendous judicial temperment. She is extremely polite and courteous to counsel, parties, court personnel and jurors. Yet she is decisive and firm in her rulings. She commands great respect by members of the bar, and she has earned that respect by exhibiting patience and contol of her courtroom.
Judge Hines reviews written materials in advance, which is tremendously helpful in oral arguments.

Judicial Profiles

Hines, Geraldine S. (Retired)