Supreme Judicial Court Justice Elspeth Cypher plans to step down in January, giving Gov. Maura Healey an opportunity to nominate somebody to the state’s highest court docket early in her first time period.
The SJC introduced Monday that Cypher, who turned 64 in February, will retire from the court docket on Jan. 12, 2024 after an almost seven-year tenure. A court docket spokesperson mentioned Cypher “wants to devote her time to teaching and research.”
Cypher will take a place at Boston College Law School for the spring 2024 semester as a Huber Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law. She mentioned in a press release that she is “looking forward to pursuing my love of teaching.”
Her departure will come a number of years earlier than Cypher turns 70, the necessary retirement age for Massachusetts judges, and creates the primary emptiness on the SJC since Healey was elected in November.
Healey’s predecessor, former Gov. Charlie Baker, noticed your complete court docket flip over throughout his two phrases and appointed all seven present members.
“On behalf of the people of Massachusetts, I’d like to offer our deep gratitude to Justice Cypher for her decades of service to our state and wish her the very best in her well-earned retirement,” Healey mentioned. “Our administration is committed to appointing a distinguished Supreme Court Justice who will uphold justice, equality and the rule of the law.”
A 1986 Suffolk University Law School graduate, Cypher started her authorized profession as an affiliate on the Boston regulation agency of Grayer, Brown and Dilday after which spent almost twenty years within the Bristol County district lawyer’s workplace as an assistant DA after which chief of the appellate division.
She joined the judiciary in 2000, after Gov. Paul Cellucci appointed her as an appeals court docket justice and he or she received approval from the Governor’s Council. Baker picked her in 2017 for a spot on the excessive court docket, and once more the elected council confirmed her to a brand new position.
“Justice Cypher has brought her keen knowledge of the law and the constitution to the appellate courts for over two decades, serving on the Supreme Judicial Court for the past six years,” mentioned SJC Chief Justice Kimberly Budd. “She has been an exceptional friend and colleague and an active role model to the many people who count her as a mentor. We are deeply grateful for her service to the people of the Commonwealth.”
Healey has not nominated any judges six months into her four-year time period, and a number of openings loom on the Superior Court.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”