§ 1 Number of justices
§ 2 Quorum
§ 2A Statement of expenses and costs
§ 3 Superintendence of inferior courts; power to issue writs and process
§ 3A Administrative assistant
§ 3B Conferences of judges
§ 4 Removal of officers
§ 4A Transfer of causes between supreme judicial court and lower courts
§ 5 Questions of law; hearing by full court
§ 6 Questions of law; reservation
§ 7 Questions of law; argument; order
§ 8 Judgment or rescript after decision
§ 9 Records and rescripts; contents
§ 10 Frivolous appeals; costs and interest
§ 12 Law sittings; adjournments
§ 14 Transfer of cases by full court
§ 15 Criminal cases; hearings
§ 16 Hearing in Boston of questions arising in other counties
§ 17 Jury sittings; times and places of sittings
§ 18 Sittings at Fall River; adjournments
§ 19 Dukes or Nantucket county cases; place of trial
§ 20 Powers of justices at jury and law sittings
§ 21 Audit of accounts
§ 22 Salaries of justices; expenses; practice of law prohibited
§ 23 Court employees
§ 24 Services of retired justices
§ 25 Disability benefits project
§ 26 Program for evaluation of judicial performance
§ 26A Questionnaires for performance evaluation program; contents; distribution, collection, etc.; frequency of evaluations
§ 26B Judicial evaluation standards; disciplinary procedures
§ 27 Pre-service and in-service training programs for justices; administration
§ 28 Leave of absence for study, research, etc.; restrictions
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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 211 - The Supreme Judicial Court

  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.