Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - wikipedia Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Coordinates : 42 ° 21 ′ 33 '' N 71 ° 03 ′ 39 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 42.359297 ° N 71.060954 ° W ﻿ / 42.359297 ; - 71.060954 Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Established 1692 Country Massachusetts, United States Location Boston, Massachusetts Composition method Executive appointments with quasi-legislative consent Authorized by Massachusetts Constitution Decisions are appealed to Supreme Court of the United States Website Official website Chief Justice Currently Ralph Gants Since July 28, 2014 Lead position ends 2024 John Adams Courthouse, home to the SJC The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ( SJC ) is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC claims the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Americas, with a recognized history dating to the establishment of the Massachusetts Superior Court of Judicature in 1692 under the charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania disputes this, claiming to be eight years older. Although it was historically composed of four associate justices and one chief justice, the court is currently composed of six associate justices and one chief justice. Contents 1 History 2 Location and citation 3 Landmark cases 4 Composition 4.1 Current composition 4.2 Notable members 4.3 List of Chief Justices 4.4 Associate justices appointed by royal governors ( 1692 -- 1775 ) 4.5 Justices appointed by the Provincial Congress ( 1775 -- 1780 ) 4.6 Associate justices appointed under the state constitution ( 1780 - present ) 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links History The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court traces its history back to the high court of the British Province of Massachusetts Bay, which was chartered in 1692. Under the terms of that charter, Governor Sir William Phips established the Superior Court of Judicature as the province 's local court of last resort ( some of the court 's decisions could be appealed to courts in England ). When the Massachusetts State Constitution was established in 1780, legislative and judicial records show that the state 's high court, although renamed, was a continuation of provincial high court. During and after the period of the American Revolution the court had members who were appointed by royal governors, the executive council of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ( which acted as the state 's executive from 1775 to 1780 ), and governors elected under the state constitution. Location and citation The SJC sits at the John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, which also houses the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Social Law Library. The proper legal citation for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is `` Mass. '' Landmark cases Rex v. Preston ( 1770 ) -- Captain Thomas Preston, the Officer of the Day during the Boston Massacre, was acquitted when the jury was unable to determine whether he had ordered the troops to fire. The defense counsel in the case was a young attorney named John Adams, later the second President of the United States. Rex v. Wemms, et al. ( 1770 ) -- Six soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre were found not guilty, and two more -- the only two proven to have fired -- were found guilty of manslaughter. Commonwealth v. Nathaniel Jennison ( 1783 ) -- The Court declared slavery unconstitutional in the state of Massachusetts by allowing slaves to sue their masters for freedom. Boston lawyer, and member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779, John Lowell, upon the adoption of Article I for inclusion in the Massachusetts Constitution, exclaimed : ``... I will render my services as a lawyer gratis to any slave suing for his freedom if it is withheld from him... '' With this case, he fulfilled his promise. Slavery in Massachusetts was denied legal standing. Commonwealth v. Hunt ( 1842 ) -- The Court established that trade unions were not necessarily criminal or conspiring organizations if they did not advocate violence or illegal activities in their attempts to gain recognition through striking. This legalized the existence of non-socialist or non-violent trade organizations, though trade unions would continue to be harassed legally through anti-trust suits and injunctions. Roberts v. Boston ( 1850 ) -- The Court established the `` separate but equal '' doctrine that would later be used in Plessy v. Ferguson by maintaining that the law gave school boards complete authority in assigning students to schools and that they could do so along racial lines if they deemed it appropriate. Goodridge v. Department of Public Health ( 2003 ) -- The Court ruled 4 - 3 that the denial of marriage licenses to same - sex couples violated the Massachusetts Constitution. The decision was stayed for 180 days to allow the legislature time to amend the law to comply with the decision. In December 2003, the state Senate asked the SJC whether `` civil unions '' would comply with their ruling. The SJC replied that civil unions were insufficient, and civil marriage was required. The legislature made no further action, and the stay expired on May 17, 2004. The state began issuing marriage licenses to same - sex couples the same day. This decision was one of the first in the world to find that same - sex couples have a right to marry. Composition The Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts with the consent of the Governor 's Council. The Justices hold office until the mandatory retirement age of seventy, like all other Massachusetts judges. Current composition The currently serving justices are : Justice Began active service Appointed by Reaches age 70 Gants, Ralph Ralph Gants 2009 ( Assoc. ) 2014 ( Chief ) Deval Patrick ( both ) 2024 Lenk, Barbara Barbara Lenk 2011 Deval Patrick 2020 Gaziano, Frank M. Frank M. Gaziano 2016 Charlie Baker 2034 Lowy, David A. David A. Lowy 2016 Charlie Baker 2031 Budd, Kimberly S. Kimberly S. Budd 2016 Charlie Baker 2036 Cypher, Elspeth B. Elspeth B. Cypher 2017 Charlie Baker 2029 Kafker, Scott L. Scott L. Kafker 2017 Charlie Baker 2029 Notable members William Cushing, Horace Gray, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. were Chief Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court when they were appointed to serve as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States Lemuel Shaw was one of the greatest American judges of the mid-19th century Charles Fried, who served on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1995 to 1999, was United States Solicitor General from 1985 to 1989 under Ronald Reagan List of chief justices # Chief Justice Took office Left office Appointed by Notes William Stoughton 1692 1701 Sir William Phips Died in office. Wait Winthrop 1701 1701 Governor 's Council Resigned. Isaac Addington 1702 1703 Joseph Dudley Resigned. Wait Winthrop 1708 1717 Joseph Dudley Died in office. 5 Samuel Sewall 1718 1728 Samuel Shute Resigned. 6 Benjamin Lynde, Sr. 1729 1745 William Burnet Died in office. 7 Paul Dudley 1745 1751 William Shirley Died in office. 8 Stephen Sewall 1752 1760 William Shirley Died in office. 9 Thomas Hutchinson 1761 1769 Francis Bernard Resigned. 10 Benjamin Lynde, Jr. 1769 1771 Thomas Hutchinson Resigned. 11 Peter Oliver 1772 1775 Thomas Hutchinson Forced out by the revolution. 12 John Adams 1775 1776 Governor 's Council Adams accepted the appointment for political reasons, but never sat on the court and eventually resigned. 13 William Cushing 1777 1789 Governor 's Council Resigned upon appointment to the United States Supreme Court. 14 Nathaniel Peaslee Sargent 1790 1791 John Hancock Died in office. 15 Francis Dana 1791 1806 John Hancock Resigned. 16 Theophilus Parsons 1806 1813 Caleb Strong Died in office. 17 Samuel Sewall 1814 1814 Caleb Strong Died in office. 18 Isaac Parker 1814 1830 Caleb Strong Died in office. 19 Lemuel Shaw 1830 1860 Levi Lincoln, Jr. Resigned. 20 George Tyler Bigelow 1860 1867 Nathaniel Prentice Banks Resigned. 21 Reuben Atwater Chapman 1868 1873 Alexander H. Bullock Died in office. 22 Horace Gray 1873 1882 William B. Washburn Resigned upon appointment to the United States Supreme Court. 23 Marcus Morton 1882 1890 John D. Long Resigned. 24 Walbridge A. Field 1890 1899 John Q.A. Brackett Died in office. 25 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 1899 1902 Roger Wolcott Resigned upon appointment to the United States Supreme Court. 26 Marcus Perrin Knowlton 1902 1911 Winthrop M. Crane Resigned. 27 Arthur Prentice Rugg 1911 1938 Eugene Foss Died in office. 28 Fred Tarbell Field 1938 1947 Charles F. Hurley Resigned. 29 Stanley Elroy Qua 1947 1956 Robert F. Bradford Resigned. 30 Raymond Sanger Wilkins 1956 1970 Christian Herter Resigned. 31 G. Joseph Tauro 1970 1976 Francis W. Sargent Resigned. 32 Edward F. Hennessey 1976 1989 Michael Dukakis Resigned. 33 Paul J. Liacos 1989 Michael Dukakis Resigned. 34 Herbert P. Wilkins 1999 William Weld Resigned. 35 Margaret H. Marshall 1999 Paul Cellucci Resigned. 36 Roderick L. Ireland 2014 Deval Patrick Resigned. 37 Ralph Gants 2014 incumbent Deval Patrick Associate justices appointed by royal governors ( 1692 -- 1775 ) All judges appointed before 1695 were reappointed in that year ( except John Richards, who had died ) because the legislation creating the court was vetoed in that year by the Privy Council. Several further attempts to legislate the court 's existence were vetoed, and it was not until 1699 that the provincial assembly enacted laws creating courts that satisfied the Privy Council. Justice Began active service Ended active service Appointed by Notes Danforth, Thomas Thomas Danforth 1692 1699 Phips 01 ! Sir William Phips Died in office. Winthrop, Wait Wait Winthrop 1692 1701 Phips 02 ! Sir William Phips Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 1702. Winthrop rejoined the court as chief justice in 1708, and died while holding that office in 1717. Richards, John John Richards 1692 1694 Phips 03 ! Sir William Phips Died in office. Sewall, Samuel Samuel Sewall 1692 1718 Phips 04 ! Sir William Phips Promoted to chief justice ; resigned 1728. Cooke, Sr., Elisha Elisha Cooke, Sr. 1695 1702 Stoughton 01 ! William Stoughton Died in office. Walley, John John Walley 1700 1712 Stoughton 02 ! William Stoughton Died in office. Saffin, John John Saffin 1701 1702 Governor 's Council Appointment not renewed upon the accession of Queen Anne. Hathorne, John John Hathorne 1702 1712 Dudley 02 ! Joseph Dudley Resigned. Leverett, John John Leverett 1702 1708 Dudley 03 ! Joseph Dudley Resigned. Curwin, Jonathan Jonathan Curwin 1708 1715 Dudley 04 ! Joseph Dudley Appointment not renewed upon the accession of King George I. Lynde, Sr., Benjamin Benjamin Lynde, Sr. 1712 1729 Dudley 05 ! Joseph Dudley Promoted to chief justice ; died in office, 1745. Thomas, Nathaniel Nathaniel Thomas 1712 1718 Dudley 06 ! Joseph Dudley Died in office. Davenport, Addington Addington Davenport 1715 1736 Died in office. Quincy, Edmund Edmund Quincy 1718 1737 Shute 01 ! Samuel Shute Resigned. Dudley, Paul Paul Dudley 1718 1745 Shute 02 ! Samuel Shute Promoted to chief justice ; died in office, 1751. Cushing, John John Cushing 1728 1733 Burnet ! William Burnet Resigned. Remington, Jonathan Jonathan Remington 1733 1745 Belcher 01 ! Jonathan Belcher Died in office. Saltonstall, Richard Richard Saltonstall 1736 1756 Belcher 02 ! Jonathan Belcher Resigned. Graves, Thomas Thomas Graves 1737 1738 Belcher 03 ! Jonathan Belcher Resigned. Sewall, Stephen Stephen Sewall 1739 1752 Belcher 04 ! Jonathan Belcher Promoted to chief justice ; died in office, 1760. Hubbard, Nathaniel Nathaniel Hubbard 1745 1746 Shirley 01 ! William Shirley Lynde, Jr., Benjamin Benjamin Lynde, Jr. 1747 1769 Shirley 02 ! William Shirley Promoted to chief justice ; resigned, 1771. Cushing, Jr., John John Cushing, Jr. 1747 1771 Shirley 03 ! William Shirley Resigned. Russell, Chambers Chambers Russell 1752 1766 Phips S ! Spencer Phips Died in office. Oliver, Peter Peter Oliver 1756 1772 Shirley 04 ! William Shirley Promoted to chief justice ; forced out during revolution, 1775. Trowbridge, Edmund Edmund Trowbridge 1767 1775 Bernard ! Francis Bernard Forced out during revolution. Hutchinson, Foster Foster Hutchinson 1771 1775 Hutchinson 01 ! Thomas Hutchinson Forced out during revolution. Ropes, Nathaniel Nathaniel Ropes 1772 1774 Hutchinson 02 ! Thomas Hutchinson Died in office. Cushing, William William Cushing 1772 1777 Hutchinson 03 ! Thomas Hutchinson Survived reorganization of the court, 1775 ; promoted to chief justice, 1777 ; resigned upon appointment to United States Supreme Court, 1789. Brown, William William Brown 1774 1775 Hutchinson 04 ! Thomas Hutchinson Brown 's appointment was approved during the tenure of Governor Thomas Gage, but was made by Hutchinson. Brown was forced out during the revolution. Justices appointed by the provincial Congress ( 1775 -- 1780 ) Justice Began active service Ended active service Notes Adams, John John Adams 1775 1776 Adams never sat with the court, and resigned in 1776. Sargent, Nathaniel Nathaniel Sargent 1775 1791 Appointed chief justice by John Hancock in 1790. Reed, William William Reed 1775 Refused Reed refused the appointment. Paine, Robert Treat Robert Treat Paine 1776 Refused Paine refused the appointment. Warren, James James Warren 1776 Refused Warren refused the appointment. Foster, Jedediah Jedediah Foster 1776 1779 Died in office. Sullivan, James James Sullivan 1776 1807 Resigned to become governor. Sewall, David David Sewall 1777 1789 Resigned to become judge of the United States District Court for Maine. Associate justices appointed under the state Constitution ( 1780 - present ) Justice Began active service Ended active service Appointed by Notes Abrams, Ruth Ruth Abrams 1978 2000 Michael Dukakis Allen, William William Allen 1881 1891 John Davis Long Died in office. Allen, Charles Charles Allen 1882 1898 John Davis Long Resigned. Ames, Seth Seth Ames 1869 1881 William Claflin Resigned. Barker, James James Barker 1891 1905 William E. Russell Died in office. Bigelow, George Tyler George Tyler Bigelow 1850 1860 George N. Briggs Promoted to chief justice. Botsford, Margot Margot Botsford 2007 incumbent Deval Patrick Bradbury, Theophilus Theophilus Bradbury 1797 1803 Increase Sumner Removed due to physical infirmity. Braley, Henry Henry Braley 1902 1929 Winthrop M. Crane Died in office. Braucher, Robert Robert Braucher 1971 1981 Francis W. Sargent Budd, Kimberly Kimberly Budd 2016 incumbent Charlie Baker Carroll, James James Carroll 1915 1932 David I. Walsh Died in office. Chapman, Reuben Atwater Reuben Atwater Chapman 1860 1868 Nathaniel Prentice Banks Promoted to chief justice. Colburn, Waldo Waldo Colburn 1882 1885 John Davis Long Died in office. Colt, James James Colt 1865 1866 John Albion Andrew Resigned. Colt, James James Colt 1868 1881 Alexander H. Bullock Died in office. Cordy, Robert J. Robert J. Cordy 2016 Paul Cellucci Counihan, Edward Edward Counihan 1949 1960 Paul A. Dever Cowin, Judith A. Judith A. Cowin 1999 2011 Paul Cellucci Resigned. Cox, Louis Louis Cox 1937 1944 Charles F. Hurley Crosby, John C. John C. Crosby 1914 1937 David I. Walsh Resigned. Cushing, Caleb Caleb Cushing 1852 1853 George S. Boutwell Resigned to become United States Attorney General. Cushing, Nathan Nathan Cushing 1790 1800 John Hancock Resigned. Cutter, R. Ammi R. Ammi Cutter 1956 1972 Christian Herter Dana, Francis Francis Dana 1785 1806 John Hancock Promoted to chief justice. Dawes, Thomas Thomas Dawes 1792 1802 John Hancock Resigned. Decourcy, Charles Charles Decourcy 1911 1924 Eugene Foss Died in office. Devens, Charles Charles Devens 1873 1877 William B. Washburn Resigned to become United States Attorney General. Devens, Charles Charles Devens 1881 1891 John Davis Long Second appointment ; died in office. Dewey, Daniel Daniel Dewey 1814 1815 Caleb Strong Died in office. Dolan, Arthur Arthur Dolan 1937 1949 Charles F. Hurley Donahue, Charles Charles Donahue 1932 1944 Joseph B. Ely Duffly, Fernande R.V. Fernande R.V. Duffly 2011 2016 Deval Patrick Endicott, William William Endicott 1873 1882 William B. Washburn Resigned. Field, Fred T. Fred T. Field 1929 1938 Frank G. Allen Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 1947. Field, Walbridge A. Walbridge A. Field 1881 1890 John Davis Long Promoted to chief justice. Fletcher, Richard Richard Fletcher 1848 1853 George N. Briggs Resigned. Forbes, Charles Charles Forbes 1848 1848 George N. Briggs Resigned. Foster, Dwight Dwight Foster 1866 1869 Alexander H. Bullock Resigned. Fried, Charles Charles Fried 1995 1999 William Weld Resigned. Gants, Ralph D. Ralph D. Gants 2009 2014 Deval Patrick Promoted to chief justice ( incumbent ) Gardner, William William Gardner 1885 1887 George D. Robinson Resigned. Gaziano, Frank Frank Gaziano 2016 incumbent Charlie Baker Gray, Horace Horace Gray 1864 1873 John Albion Andrew Promoted to chief justice. Greaney, John M. John M. Greaney 1989 2008 Michael Dukakis Resigned. Hammond, John John Hammond 1898 1914 Roger Wolcott Resigned. Hennessey, Edward F. Edward F. Hennessey 1971 1976 Francis W. Sargent Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 1989. Hines, Geraldine Geraldine Hines 2014 2017 Deval Patrick Hoar, Ebenezer R. Ebenezer R. Hoar 1859 1869 Nathaniel Prentice Banks Resigned to become United States Attorney General. Holmes, Jr., Oliver Wendell Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 1882 1899 John Davis Long Promoted to chief justice. Hubbard, Samuel Samuel Hubbard 1842 1848 John Davis Died in office. Ireland, Roderick L. Roderick L. Ireland 1997 William Weld Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 2014. Jackson, Charles Charles Jackson 1813 1823 Caleb Strong Resigned. Jenney, Charles Charles Jenney 1919 1923 Calvin Coolidge Died in office. Kaplan, Benjamin Benjamin Kaplan 1972 1981 Francis W. Sargent Resigned. Kirk Sr., Paul G. Paul G. Kirk Sr. 1960 1971 Foster Furcolo Knowlton, Marcus Perrin Marcus Perrin Knowlton 1887 1902 Oliver Ames Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 1911. Lathrop, John John Lathrop 1891 1906 William Russell Resigned. Lenk, Barbara Barbara Lenk 2011 incumbent Deval Patrick Liacos, Paul J. Paul J. Liacos 1976 1989 Michael Dukakis Promoted to chief justice. Lincoln, Jr., Levi Levi Lincoln, Jr. 1824 1825 William Eustis Resigned to become governor. Lord, Otis Otis Lord 1875 1882 William Gaston Resigned. Loring, William William Loring 1899 1919 Roger Wolcott Resigned. Lowy, David A. David A. Lowy 2016 incumbent Charlie Baker Lummus, Henry Henry Lummus 1932 1955 Joseph B. Ely Lynch, Neil L. Neil L. Lynch 1981 2000 Edward J. King Marshall, Margaret H. Margaret H. Marshall 1999 William Weld Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 2010. Merrick, Pliny Pliny Merrick 1853 1864 John H. Clifford Resigned. Metcalf, Theron Theron Metcalf 1848 1865 George N. Briggs Resigned. Morton, Marcus Marcus Morton 1825 1840 Levi Lincoln, Jr. Resigned to become governor. Morton, Jr., Marcus Marcus Morton, Jr. 1869 1882 William Claflin Promoted to chief justice. Morton, James James Morton 1890 1913 John Q.A. Brackett Resigned. Nolan, Joseph R. Joseph R. Nolan 1981 1995 Edward J. King Paine, Robert Treat Robert Treat Paine 1790 1804 John Hancock Resigned. Parker, Isaac Isaac Parker 1806 1814 Caleb Strong Promoted to chief justice ; died in office. O'Connor, Francis Patrick Francis Patrick O'Connor 1981 1997 Edward J. King Resigned. Pierce, Edward Edward Pierce 1914 1937 David I. Walsh Resigned. Putnam, Samuel Samuel Putnam 1814 1842 Caleb Strong Resigned. Qua, Stanley Elroy Stanley Elroy Qua 1934 1947 Joseph B. Ely Promoted to chief justice ; resigned 1956. Quirico, Francis Francis Quirico 1969 1981 Francis W. Sargent Reardon, Paul Paul Reardon 1962 1977 John A. Volpe Ronan, James James Ronan 1938 1960 Charles F. Hurley Rugg, Arthur Arthur Rugg 1906 1911 Curtis Guild, Jr. Promoted to chief justice ; died in office. Sanderson, George George Sanderson 1924 1932 Channing H. Cox Died in office. Sedgwick, Theodore Theodore Sedgwick 1802 1813 Caleb Strong Died in office. Sewall, Samuel Samuel Sewall 1800 1814 Caleb Strong Promoted to chief justice ; died shortly afterward. Sheldon, Henry Henry Sheldon 1905 1915 William Lewis Douglas Resigned. Sosman, Martha B. Martha B. Sosman 2000 2007 Paul Cellucci Died in office. Soule, Augustus Lord Augustus Lord Soule 1877 1881 Alexander H. Rice Resigned. Spalding, John John Spalding 1944 1971 Leverett Saltonstall Spiegel, Jacob Jacob Spiegel 1960 1972 Foster Furcolo Spina, Francis X. Francis X. Spina 1999 2016 Paul Cellucci Strong, Simeon Simeon Strong 1801 1805 Caleb Strong Died in office. Sumner, Increase Increase Sumner 1782 1797 John Hancock Resigned to become governor. Tauro, G. Joseph G. Joseph Tauro 1970 1976 Francis W. Sargent Thatcher, George George Thatcher 1801 1824 Caleb Strong Resigned. Thomas, Benjamin Benjamin Thomas 1853 1859 John H. Clifford Resigned. Wait, William William Wait 1923 1934 Channing H. Cox Resigned. Wells, John John Wells 1866 1875 Alexander H. Bullock Died in office. Whittemore, Arthur Arthur Whittemore 1955 1969 Christian Herter Wilde, Samuel Samuel Wilde 1815 1850 Caleb Strong Resigned. Wilkins, Herbert P. Herbert P. Wilkins 1972 Francis W. Sargent Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 1999. Wilkins, Raymond Raymond Wilkins 1944 1956 Leverett Saltonstall Promoted to chief justice ; resigned in 1970. Williams, Harold P. Harold P. Williams 1947 1962 Robert F. Bradford Notes Jump up ^ `` Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts home page ''. Retrieved 2013 - 10 - 16. Jump up ^ Eichholz, Alice ( 2004 ). Alice Eichholz, ed. Red Book : American State, County, and Town Sources ( 3rd Revised ed. ). Ancestry Publishing. p. 316. ISBN 978 - 1593311667. Jump up ^ `` About the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania - SCOPA Review ''. Retrieved 7 July 2017. Jump up ^ Zobel, Hiller ( 1970 ). Boston Massacre, pp. 243 -- 265 Jump up ^ Zobel, pp. 269 -- 286 Jump up ^ Lowell, Delmar R., The Historic Genealogy of the Lowells of America from 1639 to 1899 ( p 35 ) ; Rutland VT, The Tuttle Company, 1899 ; ISBN 978 - 0 - 7884 - 1567 - 8. Jump up ^ Levenson, Michael ( May 4, 2011 ). `` Lenk approved for SJC ; first openly gay justice on state 's highest court ''. Boston Globe. Retrieved May 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Justice Margot Botsford retires from SJC - The Boston Globe ''. Retrieved 7 July 2017. References Davis, William ( 1900 ). History of the Judiciary of Massachusetts Massachusetts Civil List for the Colonial and Provincial Periods Reno, Conrad. Memoirs of the Judiciary and the Bar of New England, Volume 1 External links Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts List of Chief Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court ( since 1801 ) Office of the Reporter of Decisions of the SJC Gay - Marriage Decision : Just the Beginning of the Debate Memoirs v. Massachusetts Simpson 's Contemporary Quotations Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief justices ( 1692 -- present ) Stoughton Winthrop Addington Winthrop Samuel Sewall Lynde Sr. Dudley Stephen Sewall T. Hutchinson Lynde Jr. Oliver Adams Cushing Sargent Dana Parsons Sewall Parker Shaw Bigelow Chapman Gray Morton W. Field Holmes Knowlton Rugg F. Field Qua R. Wilkins Tauro Hennessey Liacos H. Wilkins Marshall Ireland Gants Provincial period Associate justices ( 1692 -- 1775 ) Danforth Richards Samuel Sewall Winthrop Cooke Walley Saffin Hathorne Leverett Curwin Lynde Sr. Thomas Davenport Quincy Dudley J. Cushing Sr. Remington Saltonstall Graves Stephen Sewall Hubbard Lynde Jr. J. Cushing Jr. Russell Oliver Trowbridge F. Hutchinson Ropes W. Cushing Brown Revolutionary period Associate justices ( 1775 -- 80 ) Sargent Reed Paine Warren Foster Sullivan D. Sewall Commonwealth period Associate justices ( 1780 -- present ) Sumner Dana N. Cushing Paine Dawes Bradbury Sewall Strong Thatcher Sedgwick Parker Jackson D. Dewey Putnam Wilde C. Dewey Lincoln M. Morton Sr. Hubbard Fletcher Forbes Metcalf Bigelow C. Cushing Merrick Thomas Hoar Chapman Gray Colt Foster Ames Wells M. Morton Jr. Devens Endicott Lord Soule W. Allen Devens W. Field C. Allen Colburn Holmes Gardner Knowlton J. Morton Barker Lathrop Hammond Loring Braley Sheldon Rugg Decourcy Crosby Pierce Carroll Jenney Wait Sanderson F. Field Donahue Lummus Qua Cox Dolan Ronan Spalding R. Wilkins Williams Counihan Whittemore Cutter Kirk Spiegel Reardon Quirico Braucher Hennessey Kaplan H. Wilkins Liacos Abrams Lynch Nolan O'Connor Greaney Fried Marshall Ireland Cowin Spina Sosman Cordy Botsford Gants Duffly Lenk Hines Gaziano Lowy Budd Cypher Kafker Italics indicate individuals who were offered seats on the court, but refused Current statewide government officials of Massachusetts U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren Ed Markey State government Charlie Baker, Governor Karyn Polito, Lieutenant Governor William Galvin, Secretary of State Maura Healey, Attorney General Deb Goldberg, Treasurer Suzanne Bump, Auditor State Senate Stan Rosenberg, President Harriette Chandler, Majority Leader Bruce Tarr, Minority Leader State House Robert DeLeo, Speaker Ronald Mariano, Majority Leader Bradley Jones, Minority Leader Supreme Judicial Court Ralph Gants, Chief Justice Barbara Lenk Frank M. Gaziano David A. Lowy Kimberly S. Budd Elspeth B. Cypher Scott L. Kafker, Associate Justices See also : Political party strength in Massachusetts Government of Massachusetts Legislative General Court Senate ( Members, President ) House of Representatives ( Members, Speaker ) Executive Governor ( List ) Lt. Governor Attorney General Auditor Secretary of the Commonwealth Treasurer and Receiver - General Office for Administration and Finance Office of Education Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Office of Health and Human Services Office of Housing and Economic Development Office of Labor and Workforce Development Office of Public Safety and Security Department of Transportation Judicial Boston Municipal Court District Court Superior Court Land Court Juvenile Court Housing Court Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Appeals Court ( Judges ) Supreme Judicial Court Dedham District Court Independent agencies Board of Library Commissioners Commission Against Discrimination Commission on the Status of Women Disabled Persons Protection Commission Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board Massachusetts District Attorneys Massachusetts Inspector General Office of Campaign and Political Finance Office of the Comptroller Massachusetts Sheriffs State Ethics Commission Law Constitution General Laws Code of Massachusetts Regulations Alcohol Cannabis Capital punishment Crime Elder law Gun laws LGBT rights Taxation Highest judicial bodies in the United States Federal court Supreme Court of the United States 1st Cir. 2nd Cir. 3rd Cir. 4th Cir. 5th Cir. 6th Cir. 7th Cir. 8th Cir. 9th Cir. 10th Cir. 11th Cir. 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Judges ) North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma ( Civil ) Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas ( Civil ) Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Massachusetts_Supreme_Judicial_Court&oldid=834323409 '' Categories : Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court State supreme courts of the United States Massachusetts state courts 1692 establishments in Massachusetts Government Center, Boston Hidden categories : Coordinates on Wikidata Articles with hCards Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Nederlands Português Edit links This page was last edited on 5 April 2018, at 02 : 37. About Wikipedia

Question: when was the supreme judicial court of massachusetts established
Answer: 1692