Supreme Judicial Court

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III is urging the state's highest court to reinstate the murder conviction of Aaron Hernandez.

The first same-sex marriage occurred in Massachusetts 14 years ago today, and we are a better society for it.

Massachusetts' highest court says the state's Department of Correction overstepped its authority when it began using dogs to search prison visitors for drugs.

BOSTON (AP) _ The state's highest court is set to take up the question of whether Massachusetts can ban political contributions from businesses while allowing contributions from unions. Under state campaign finance law, businesses are not allowed to contribute to candidates while unions can donate up to $15,000...

Some inmates' rights groups are hoping the highest court in Massachusetts will block a policy in which prison visitors are subjected to a search by drug-sniffing dogs before entering state-run facilities, but Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson doesn't think the policy should or will change anytime soon.

A unique case before Massachusetts' highest court is challenging the practice of ordering people with addiction to stay drug free as a condition of probation.

DARTMOUTH — Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson is working with state lawmakers to immediately file and pass legislation that will strengthen the partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement in their shared mission to enforce laws and keep citizens and legal residents safe...

DARTMOUTH — For the first time in over 100 years, a representative of Bristol County sits on Massachusetts' highest court. Elspeth "Ellie" Cypher was sworn in Thursday at a ceremony at UMass Dartmouth to the Supreme Judicial Court. The former Bristol County prosecutor, who spent over 16 years on the bench in the state appeals court, was unanimously confirmed to replace retiring Justice M

BOSTON (AP) - District attorneys in Massachusetts are facing a key deadline as they continue to deal with the damage caused by the misconduct of a former state drug lab chemist. The state's highest court ordered the DAs to produce lists by Tuesday indicating how many of the approximately 24,000 tainted cases they would not or could not prosecute if new trials were ordered...

Judge Elspeth "Ellie" Cypher of Assonet was unanimously confirmed to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts by the Governor's Council on Wednesday. The 58-year-old former Bristol County prosecutor will replace Justice Margot Botsford, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 this month...