A three-member panel of judges who sit on the Massachusetts Appeals Court held a court session in the ballroom of UMass Boston’s Campus Center on Wed., April 8. The judges —Hon. Gregory I. Massing, Hon. Joseph M. Ditkoff, and Hon. Kathryn E. Hand— heard six cases during the course of the morning in front of an audience that included scores of students from UMass Boston and several local high schools.
The doors to the third-floor venue opened around 9:30 a.m., and soon after, the court was in session. They heard three criminal and three civil cases over the next few hours.
According to a handout at the event, “The Appeals Court is conducting this sitting at the University of Massachusetts — Boston as part of its ongoing effort to broaden public awareness, understanding, and accessibility of the Massachusetts court system. The Justices will continue to hear oral arguments in cases on appeal at the John Adams Courthouse in Boston during the month.”
Students from several high schools, including Another Course to College, Boston International Newcomers Academy, New Mission, Ruth Batson Academy, Boston College High School, and Notre Dame Academy, attended the event.
“UMass Boston is proud to serve as a hub where education, civic engagement, and community come together,” said Philip Carver, Director of Community & City Relations, UMass Boston. “Hosting events like this on campus and opening them to the public reflects our mission as the city’s public university, creating meaningful access to real-world experiences for our students and neighbors alike.”
