reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 217 § 42 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 217 - Judges and Registers of Probate and Insolvency|Section 42 - Traveling Expenses

Section 42. Judges, registers, judicial case managers, assistant judicial case managers, first assistant registers and assistant registers shall receive from the commonwealth their actual and proper traveling expenses incurred by them in the performance of their official duties in holding and attending court at a place other than that where the registry of probate is situated and any expenses actually incurred in transporting official papers from the registry of probate to another probate office within the same county for court purposes, upon an itemized statement of such expenses being certified to, and approved by, the chief justice, but a justice appointed to the probate and family court in Dukes county or Nantucket county shall receive his actual expenses for travel by land, sea or air from his residence on the mainland to such county and from such county to his residence on the mainland. The traveling expenses necessarily incurred by judges of probate sitting at the direction of the chief justice in counties other than the counties in which they are appointed shall be paid by the commonwealth, upon the certificate of the chief justice.
MA Gen L ch 217 § 43 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 217 - Judges and Registers of Probate and Insolvency|Section 43 - Temporary Register; Compensation; Fees

Section 43. A temporary register shall be entitled to the same compensation as the register, and shall be paid by him if the appointment is caused by his absence; but if the appointment is caused by his death, removal or resignation, the temporary register shall be paid by the commonwealth. No judge or register shall receive any fee or compensation in addition to his salary for holding or attending courts or acting as judge or register in any county, nor for anything done in his official capacity, except as expressly provided by law, but any judge of probate assisting another judge in the performance of his duties may receive compensation from him, if not entitled to receive it from the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 2 - Boston Municipal Courts; Concurrent Jurisdiction Over Waters and Islands

Section 2. The municipal courts in Boston shall have concurrent jurisdiction over all waters, islands and places not included in the district of any one of said courts or of the district court of Chelsea, and within the jurisdiction of the superior court for Suffolk county, except as provided in the preceding and following sections.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 2a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 2a - Transfer of Civil Actions Brought in Wrong Court

Section 2A. Each district court shall have civil jurisdiction of actions local or transitory begun in such court which should have been brought in some other district court, to the extent that the court in which the action is begun may try and dispose of the case if the question of venue is waived or, if not waived, the court may, on motion of any party, order the action, with all papers relating thereto, to be transferred for trial or disposition to any other district court in which the action might have been commenced. The defendant in said action shall be entitled to costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court. Said action shall thereupon be entered and prosecuted in such court as if it had been originally commenced therein, and all prior proceedings otherwise regularly taken shall thereafter be valid. An additional entry fee for entry in the court to which the case is transferred shall be paid to the clerk of the transmitting court for transfer with the papers.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 3 - Boston Municipal Courts; Concurrent Criminal Jurisdiction Over Waters and Islands

Section 3. The central, Charlestown, South Boston, and East Boston divisions of the Boston municipal court department, shall have and exercise, concurrently with each other, the same criminal jurisdiction as said courts have within their respective districts over all islands, except East Boston, and waters, except so much of the Charles river basin as is described in section one, within the criminal jurisdiction of the superior court for Suffolk county.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 4 - District Court Jurisdiction; Seals

Section 4. District courts shall be courts of record. They shall be courts of superior and general jurisdiction with reference to all cases and matters in which they have jurisdiction, and no order, decree, judgment, sentence, warrant, writ or process made, issued or pronounced by them need set out any adjudication or circumstances with greater particularity than would be required in other courts of superior and general jurisdiction, and the like presumption shall be made in favor of proceedings of such courts as would be made in favor of proceedings of other courts of superior and general jurisdiction. Each district court shall have a seal, which shall be in the custody of its clerk, and shall be affixed to all processes issued by such court requiring a seal.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 5 - Contempt Cases; Service of Process

Section 5. Processes issued in contempt cases may be served by any officer qualified to serve criminal process.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 7 - Oaths; Power to Administer

Section 7. Justices and special justices of district courts may, in or out of court, administer oaths in all cases in which an oath is required, unless otherwise expressly provided.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 8 - Clerks; Appointment; Number; Retirement; Vacation and Sick Leave

Section 8. Each district court shall have a clerk and the central division of the Boston municipal court department shall have one clerk as provided in section 52A. All such clerks shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council. Said clerks shall hold office during good behavior, but subject, however, to retirement under the provisions of any applicable general or special law relative to retirement systems. Said clerk shall have responsibility for the internal administration of his office, including personnel, staff services and record keeping.  Each clerk appointed prior to January first, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven under the authority of this section and serving continuously thereafter shall be entitled to thirty days vacation and thirty days sick leave in each calendar year. Any such clerk may accumulate vacation and sick leave not used in any such year; provided, however, that the total amount of vacation days so accumulated shall not exceed sixty and the total amount of sick leave so accumulated shall not exceed one hundred and eighty days; and, provided further, that no additional such days shall be accumulated on or after said January first except in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the court administrator pursuant to section eight of chapter two hundred and eleven B. All other clerks appointed under the authority of this section shall be entitled to vacation leave and sick leave in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the court administrator pursuant to said section eight.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 9 - Temporary Clerks

Section 9. In the case of the absence, death or removal of a clerk of a court of the district court department, the chief justice of the district court department may appoint a temporary clerk, to act until the clerk resumes his duties or until the vacancy is filled.  In the case of the absence, death or removal of a clerk of a court of the Boston municipal court department, the chief justice of the Boston municipal department may appoint a temporary clerk, to act until the clerk resumes his duties or until the vacancy is filled.  A temporary clerk shall be paid by the commonwealth for each day's service an amount equal to the rate by the day of the compensation of the clerk of such court as established in the salary schedule set forth in section seventy-nine; but compensation so paid to a temporary clerk for service, in excess of the number of days of vacation accumulated by the clerk as provided in section eight in any one year, shall be deducted by the state treasurer from the salary of the clerk; provided, however, that if a clerk is absent, due to his illness or physical disability, for a period not exceeding the number of days of sick leave he has accumulated pursuant to said section eight, no such deduction shall be made. Such thirty days sick leave or any portion thereof not used in any year may be accumulated, but shall, in any event not exceed one hundred and eighty days in any consecutive six-year period. If the person so appointed holds an office or position, the salary or compensation for which is paid out of the treasury of the commonwealth, or of a county, or a municipality, he shall not receive the salary of both office or positions during the period of such temporary service.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 10a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 10a - Deputy Assistant Clerks; Power to Designate

Section 10A. The clerk of each district court, except the central division of the Boston municipal court department, may, designate such employees in his office, as in his judgment may be necessary for the convenience of the public, as deputy assistant clerks of said court, who shall have the same authority to administer oaths as an assistant clerk of a district court without receiving any extra compensation therefor.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 11 - Temporary Assistant Clerks

Section 11. In case of the absence, death or removal of a salaried assistant clerk of the district court department and the Boston municipal court department, the clerk, subject to the approval of the court administrator as to compliance with personnel standards promulgated pursuant to section eight of chapter two hundred and eleven B, may appoint a temporary assistant clerk, to act until such assistant clerk resumes his duties or until the vacancy is filled. A temporary assistant clerk shall be paid by the commonwealth for each day's service an amount equal to the rate by the day of the compensation of such assistant clerk as established by section eighty, but compensation so paid to a temporary assistant clerk for service, in excess of the number of days of vacation accumulated by the assistant clerk as provided in section ten in any one year, shall be deducted by the state treasurer from the salary of such assistant clerk; provided, however, that if an assistant clerk is absent due to his illness or physical disability for a period not exceeding the number of days of sick leave he has accumulated, no such deduction shall be made. Such thirty day sick leave or any portion thereof not used in any year may be accumulated, but shall, in any event, not exceed one hundred and eighty days in any consecutive six-year period.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 12 - Clerks; Oath of Office; Duties and Powers

Section 12. The clerks, assistant clerks, temporary clerks and temporary assistant clerks of said courts shall be sworn, and in the case of any such assistant clerk, temporary clerk or temporary assistant clerk the oath of office may be administered by the justice or a special or associate justice of his court, who shall, upon administering the same, forthwith make return of such act with the date thereof to the state secretary. They or one of them shall attend all sessions of the court and shall keep a record of all its proceedings. The clerks shall have the care and custody of all the records, books and papers appertaining to, or filed or deposited in, their respective offices. A clerk may make and issue writs and processes, shall make returns of the court, tax bills of costs and receive fines, forfeitures, fees and costs accruing from the civil and criminal business of the court, including fees for blanks and copies.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 13 - Records; Storage

Section 13. The records, papers and documents of the district courts may, subject to the approval of the supervisor of public records, be stored and kept in fireproof rooms, vaults and safes, provided by the commonwealth in the towns where the divisions are respectively situated, or in the courthouses.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 14 - Facsimile Signatures

Section 14. Clerks and assistant clerks of district courts may sign process issued by the said courts, and court records, documents or other legal papers, or copies thereof, relating to criminal, delinquent, wayward and neglected cases made or issued by such clerks or assistant clerks in conformity with law, except search warrants and process authorizing arrests or commitments, by imprinting thereon a facsimile of the signature of the clerk or assistant clerk; and such facsimile signatures shall have the same validity as their written signatures.  Complaints for violations of the parking law, brought under section twenty A or section twenty C of chapter ninety, may be signed by the complainant by imprinting thereon a facsimile of his signature. Said facsimile signature shall have the same validity as his written signature.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 15 - Times for Holding Trials; Office Hours

Section 15. The chief justice for the district court department, and the chief justice for the Boston municipal court department, shall prescribe the times for holding civil and criminal trials in their respective departments, and the divisions thereof, except where such times are established by law, and the hours when their respective departments, and divisions, shall open for the transaction of business, and shall also prescribe reasonable office hours for the clerks of their respective divisions, during which hours the offices of such clerks shall be open, and may authorize such clerks to operate their offices on Saturdays with reduced personnel. Such hours shall be fixed with reference to the business of said divisions and the convenience of the public and of attorneys, and notice thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the offices of the respective clerks. Clerks shall also keep their offices open whenever the court so orders.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 16 - Bond of Clerk

Section 16. The clerk of a division of the district court department before entering upon the performance of his official duties, and thereafter, at intervals of not more than one year, so long as he continues to hold such office, shall give to the commonwealth a bond, conditioned to perform faithfully his official duties, with a surety company authorized to transact business in the commonwealth, as surety, in a sum approved by the chief justice of the district court department, but in no event less than five thousand dollars. Failure to give such bond shall be sufficient cause for his removal.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 17 - Justice, Clerk or Assistant Clerk; Restrictions on Practice of Law; Special Justices; Restrictions on Hearing or Trying Cases

Section 17. A justice, clerk or assistant clerk of a district court shall not be retained or employed as an attorney in an action, complaint or proceeding pending in the court to which he is appointed, or which has been examined or tried therein; and a special justice shall not be so retained or employed in any case in which he acts or has acted as justice. No justice or special justice shall hear or try any case or proceeding in any court of the district court department, if he shall know that a partner or office associate of his has been directly or indirectly retained or employed as an attorney in such case or proceeding. No special justice shall practice in a criminal session of any court in the commonwealth nor shall he practice at all in the court, or predecessor district court, to which he is appointed.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 18 - Justices and Clerks; Receipt of Certain Fees; Prohibition

Section 18. A justice, special justice acting in the place of the justice, clerk or assistant clerk of a district court shall not receive any fee or compensation to his own use, other than his regular salary or allowance, for making complaints or issuing in any capacity warrants, subpoenas or other criminal processes which he is authorized to issue, or for any official services performed by him in court. A clerk or assistant clerk shall not receive, in addition to his salary, any fee or compensation for making out bail papers, or for admitting a prisoner to bail while the court is in session or during the hours when his office is required to be open.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 19 - General Provisions

[See Standing Order of the Supreme Court, dated July 17, 2019, effective January 1, 2020, and applicable to civil actions for money damages commenced on or after that date (MA R S CT SDG ORDERS Amount-in-Controversy) which increased the amount-in-controversy from $25,000 to $50,000.]  Section 19. Except as otherwise provided by law, the district court and Boston municipal court departments shall have original jurisdiction of civil actions for money damages. The actions may proceed in the courts only if there is no reasonable likelihood that recovery by the plaintiff will exceed $25,000, or an amount ordered from time to time by the supreme judicial court. Where multiple damages are allowed by law, the amount of single damages claimed shall control. Notwithstanding the limitation of $25,000, or other amount ordered by the supreme judicial court, the district courts may proceed with actions for money damages in any amount in summary process actions. The Boston municipal and district court departments shall have original jurisdiction concurrent with the probate and family court department of actions relative to paternity and support under chapter two hundred and nine C. The district courts shall also have jurisdiction of actions in summary process under chapter two hundred and thirty-nine and in the hearing and disposition of such actions shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the divisions of the housing court department pursuant to section three of chapter one hundred and eighty-five C. The Boston municipal and district court departments shall have original jurisdiction concurrent with the probate and family court department of proceedings under chapter two hundred and nine D. They shall have jurisdiction of proceedings transferred to them under the provisions of section four A of chapter two hundred and eleven.
MA Gen L ch 218 § 19c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 218 - District Courts|Section 19c - District Court Jurisdiction; Equity Powers and Rules

Section 19C. The district court and Boston municipal court departments of the trial court shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 214 and the same authority with regard to declaratory judgments as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 231A for the purpose of the hearing and disposition of summary process actions and of civil actions for money damages under section 19 of this chapter.  The district courts shall have original jurisdiction in rem and personam of all actions arising under sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven K, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven. The district courts shall have equity powers only to the extent necessary to enforce the aforementioned sections, including the power to appoint receivers, grant injunctions and issue restraining orders as justice and equity may require and for punishing civil contempt of orders, rulings and decrees made or pronounced in the exercise of this jurisdiction.  Subject to the approval of the supreme judicial court, the chief justice for the district court department may from time to time promulgate rules and prescribe forms for the efficient operation of such equity sessions in the courts of the district court department; and in the Boston municipal court department the chief justice for said department may promulgate such rules and prescribe such forms.