Massachusetts

Third federal appeals court rejects Trump administration bid on birthright citizenship

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Boston on Tuesday refused to allow President Donald Trump’s order on birthright citizenship to take effect, joining two other federal appeals courts that also ruled against the administration on the issue.

Mar 12, 2025 12:05 PM CDT

This attorney made partner after creating a lucrative practice area focused on construction law

David Fine didn’t intend to become a construction law attorney. But when presented with the opportunity, the Massachusetts-based attorney ran with it.

Feb 25, 2025 8:46 AM CST

Bar associations could be targeted, Trump DEI order says, spurring response from 2 of them

Bar associations could be targeted for investigation under President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end “illegal preferences and discrimination” in government and the private sector.

Jan 23, 2025 10:55 AM CST

Federal judge offers ‘unreserved apology’ after order says his Alito criticism violated ethics rules

Senior U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor of the District of Massachusetts is offering an “unreserved apology” and a commitment to “scrupulously avoid” future transgressions after he was found to have violated the judicial code of ethics for criticizing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in an op-ed in the New York Times.

Dec 18, 2024 12:09 PM CST

Judge gave ‘reasonable impression’ she was letting immigrant evade ICE, ethics charges say

A Massachusetts judge who allegedly gave a “reasonable impression” that she was allowing an immigrant to evade federal custody was “less than fully candid” when asked about the incident, according to an ethics complaint filed Monday.

Dec 5, 2024 12:52 PM CST

Ex-fiancee must return $70K ring after failed engagement, court says

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Friday ruled that, from now on, an engagement ring must be returned to the buyer if the wedding falls through, regardless of who’s at fault.

Nov 11, 2024 9:30 AM CST

Judge accuses high-profile law firms of possible effort to ‘gum up the works’

A federal judge in Boston complained during a status conference Friday that lawyers from three high-profile law firms had filed so many motions and documents that they were failing to keep litigation just, speedy and inexpensive, as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Oct 22, 2024 12:49 PM CDT

‘Spoiled rotten’ beaver caught in dramatic court case over her future

Nibi, a furry female beaver taken in by wildlife rescuers, has become a household name in Boston—and now her future is set to be determined in a court case that has made national headlines and garnered the attention of the state governor.

Oct 4, 2024 8:50 AM CDT

Longtime Boston-based law firm will disband after lawyer defections

Boston-based Burns & Levinson is winding down after losing nearly half of its attorneys to other law firms this year.

Oct 1, 2024 9:15 AM CDT

Lawyer awarded $3.3M after crashing snowmobile into negligently parked Army helicopter

A federal judge in Massachusetts has awarded $3.3 million in damages to a lawyer for injuries suffered when he crashed his snowmobile into a camouflaged U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter parked on a snowmobile trail at dusk.

Sep 26, 2024 2:28 PM CDT

Switchblades are protected by Second Amendment, top Massachusetts court rules

A Massachusetts law banning the possession of switchblades violates the Second Amendment, the state’s top court ruled Tuesday.

Aug 28, 2024 10:58 AM CDT

How an understanding court clerk saved lawyer with dementia from humiliation

The signs of a retired lawyer’s decline were subtle at first. Sometimes he was at a loss for words. His “dad jokes,” delivered as a volunteer at a Veterans Affairs medical center, started sounding rehearsed. His behavior changed.

Aug 22, 2024 11:36 AM CDT

‘Magic spell hypothesis’ may explain legalese, researchers say

Researchers studying the origins of legalese say lawmakers and lawyers may write laws and legal documents in a convoluted manner to confer a “ritualistic, spell-like element” signaling authority.

Aug 20, 2024 3:12 PM CDT

1st Circuit rules against Satanic Temple in challenge to city council snub

The Boston City Council’s failure to invite the Satanic Temple to deliver an invocation before its meetings did not violate the First Amendment, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Aug 7, 2024 3:07 PM CDT

Lawyer once named most eligible bachelor sentenced to at least 5 years in prison for rape

A Boston lawyer who was once named one of People magazine’s most eligible bachelors was sentenced Monday to between five and 10 years in prison for raping a 21-year-old woman.

Jul 16, 2024 11:15 AM CDT