August 24, 2007
Dear WBA Members,
As you know, Governor Deval Patrick has nominated
the Hon. Margot Botsford as Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. The
Massachusetts Governor's Council, also known as the Executive Council, will
be meeting at noon on August 29th in its State House Chamber, next to the
Governor's Office. At that time, the eight elected members of the council will
hold a confirmation hearing on Judge Botsford's nomination. The WBA has
officially endorsed Judge Botsford for the position of Associate Justice of the
Supreme Judicial Court.
If you would like to contact your Governor's
Councilor in advance of the hearing on Wednesday to express your support of
Judge Botsford's nomination,
click here to find your elected Councilor.
The following letter is being sent to all eight
members of the Governor's Council:
On behalf of the Women’s Bar Association of
Massachusetts, we are writing to express our support and endorsement of the
nomination of the Honorable Margot Botsford to serve on the Supreme Judicial
Court. Based on Judge Botsford’s strong record, keen intellect and longtime
dedication to fair application of the law, we believe that Governor Patrick has
nominated a most qualified individual to sit on our state’s highest court.
As you may be aware, the Women’s Bar Association
is an organization composed of nearly 1,400 members of the legal community,
including attorneys in public and private practice, judges, managing partners,
solo practitioners, in-house counsel, legal services lawyers, law professors,
and law students. Our mission is to advance the full and equal participation of
women in the legal profession and in a just society. One of our goals has been
to ensure that qualified women have the opportunity to participate in public
service through judicial nominations and appointments. Indeed, a more equitable
society depends on a judiciary that both reflects the diversity of the
Commonwealth and boasts the most talented legal
minds in our community.
At this critical time for the Supreme Judicial
Court, we are proud to endorse Judge Margot Botsford as Associate Justice. Judge
Botsford has served the Commonwealth with great distinction since her 1989
appointment to the Superior Court bench. She is well-regarded
among practitioners and peers in the community for her sharp legal acumen,
professional temperament, and facility in communicating with litigants, law
clerks, lawyers, and members of the public. Her scholarship and opinions
demonstrate an unwavering ability to adhere to the rule of law while affording
the utmost dignity and respect to all who appear before her. Judge Botsford’s
judicial record shows a jurist who carefully and critically renders decisions,
and who administers criminal sentences fairly and impartially.
In conducting due diligence, the WBA was told that
Judge Botsford is a “wonderful jurist”, capable of digesting reams of material
in a manner that is “fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of justice”, a
“champion of women’s issues”, and “a role model for women in public service
attempting to achieve family life balances”.
The Women’s Bar Association is fortunate that
Judge Botsford is not only a role model for our members, but also is
a former member of the WBA Board of Directors. In that role, as on the
bench, she devoted time and skill to the legal profession. We are pleased to
endorse Judge Botsford and hope that the Governor’s Council will unanimously
vote to confirm her to the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Sincerely,
Julia Huston, President
Kathy Jo Cook, President-Elect
Elisabeth J. Medvedow, Executive Director
