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Kimberly S. Budd (born October 23, 1966) is the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts and former justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Early life, education and legal career

Budd was born on October 23, 1966, to former U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts Wayne Budd. Budd primarily grew up in Peabody, Massachusetts.[1] She attended Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, but graduated high school in Atlanta after her family moved before the start of her senior year in 1983.[2][3]

Budd received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Georgetown University, graduating magna cum laude in 1988, and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1991. She began her legal career as a law clerk to Chief Justice Joseph P. Warner of the Massachusetts Appeals Court in 1991. She was a litigation associate at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo before serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. After that, she was a university attorney for Harvard University in the General Counsel's Office. She later served as Director of the Community Values program at Harvard Business School.[4] Budd teaches in MCLE and Bar Association programs, is a former adjunct instructor at New England Law, and has taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School.[4]

Judicial career

Budd was previously an Associate Justice for the Massachusetts Superior Court. She was nominated to the court by Governor Deval Patrick in July 2009 and began active service in September 2009. She was nominated to the seat formerly held by Ralph D. Gants.[5]

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

She was nominated to the court by Governor Charlie Baker on June 14, 2016, and confirmed by the Governor's Council on August 10, 2016.[6][7] She assumed office on August 24, 2016, and was ceremonially sworn in on November 21, 2016.[8]

In May 2017, Budd wrote for the unanimous court when it found that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act required the Massachusetts parole board to make reasonable accommodations when considering whether to grant parole to a murderer with traumatic brain injury.[9][10]

On October 28, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Justice Budd to assume the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. Justice Budd has been nominated to fill the Chief Justice vacancy after the death of former Chief Justice Justice Ralph Gants in September 2020.[11] On November 18, 2020, she was unanimously confirmed by the Governor's Council.[12] Budd became the first female, African-American Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upon her swearing in.

Personal life

She is married with two sons.[4] Her father is Wayne Budd, senior counsel at Goodwin Procter and a former United States Attorney.[5]

References

  1. ^ Service, Andy MetzgerState House News. "SJC nominee Budd airs her legal views at hearing". telegram.com. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  2. ^ Writer, Julie Manganis Staff. "Former Peabody resident tapped to head state's highest court". Salem News. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  3. ^ Writer, Ethan Forman Staff. "SJC justices return to Peabody High roots". Salem News. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  4. ^ a b c "Supreme Judicial Court Justices".
  5. ^ a b "Kimberly Budd, daughter of Springfield native and former U.S. attorney Wayne Budd, nominated for judgeship". July 8, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Lannan, Katie (June 14, 2016). "Judge from Scituate among three nominees to state's highest court". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Kimberly Budd confirmed unanimously to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court". MASSLive.com. August 10, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "At Ceremonial Swearing In, Supreme Judicial Court Justice Budd Says, "It is through the Courts that the Rule of Law is enforced— it is the Rule of Law which stands between order and chaos."" (Press release). November 21, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  9. ^ Note, Recent Case: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Observes that Americans with Disabilities Act Applies to Parole, 131 Harv. L. Rev. 910 (2018).
  10. ^ Crowell v. Massachusetts Parole Board, 74 N.E.3d 618 (Mass. 2017).
  11. ^ "Gov. Baker Nominates Associate Justice Budd To Supreme Judicial Court Chief". www.wbur.org. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  12. ^ "Budd confirmed as SJC chief in historic appointment". Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.

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Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
2016–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
2020–present
Incumbent