Governor Baker Nominates Massachusetts Appeals Court Chief Justice Scott Kafker to Supreme Judicial Court
BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito today announced the nomination of Massachusetts Appeals Court Chief Justice Scott Kafker to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC). The nomination is Governor Baker’s fifth to the Commonwealth’s highest court. If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, Chief Justice Kafker will replace retiring Justice Geraldine Hines.
“We have been honored and humbled by the responsibility of nominating five justices to the Supreme Judicial Court. We are confident that, if confirmed, Chief Justice Kafker’s nearly three decades of service and his knowledge and commitment to the law will be a welcome addition to one of the nation’s appellate leading courts,” said Governor Baker. “We thank Justice Hines for her service and wish her well in her retirement.”
Justice Kafker was joined by family, friends and colleagues for the formal announcement today at the State House with the Governor and Lt. Governor.
“As a member of the Appeals Court for the last sixteen years, and most recently as its Chief, Justice Kafker has proven to be a distinguished and highly experienced judge who will bring those skills to the Supreme Judicial Court,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “The Commonwealth is grateful for his service and that of Justice Hines and we look forward to the Governor’s Council’s consideration of Justice Kafker’s intellect, thoughtfulness and impartial dedication to justice and the people of Massachusetts.”
The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is the Commonwealth's highest appellate court, consisting of the Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven Justices hear appeals on a broad range of criminal and civil cases from September through May and issue written opinions that are posted online.
In February of 2016, Governor Baker named a statewide 12-member Supreme Judicial Nominating Commission (SJC-NC) to recruit, screen and recommend applicants to fill an unprecedented number of upcoming vacancies on the Commonwealth’s highest court. The process was re-opened last October with the pending retirements of Justice Margo Botsford and Justice Geraldine Hines. All judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.
Associate Justices Kimberly Budd, Frank Gaziano and David Lowy joined the SJC last summer following their nomination by Governor Baker. Associate Justice Elspeth Cyper was nominated by the Governor this past February. All four nominees received unanimous approvals by the Governor’s Council.
About The Honorable Scott Kafker:
The Honorable Scott L. Kafker was appointed to the Massachusetts Appeals Court in 2001 by Governor Paul Cellucci and now serves as Chief Justice, appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in 2015. In this capacity, he leads the court with state-wide jurisdiction over all civil and criminal appeals.
Prior to joining the Appeals Court, Justice Kafker served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) where he was responsible for all legal, insurance, and collective bargaining matters of Massport which operates Logan International Airport, regional airports and the Seaport of Boston. He provided legal advice and litigation support for the multi-billion dollar modernization of Logan Airport.
He served in the Weld Administration as Deputy Legal Counsel and Deputy Chief Legal Counsel from 1991 to 1993. From 1987 to 1991, Justice Kafker worked as an Associate at Foley, Hoag & Elliot. Upon graduation from law school, Justice Kafker clerked for Justice Charles L. Levin of the Michigan Supreme Court and Judge Mark L. Wolf of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He also taught state constitutional law at Boston College Law School from 2009 to 2015 and served on the Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure from 2008 to 2015. He graduated from Amherst College in 1981 and obtained his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1985, where he was an editor on the law review.
