Justice Kimberley S. Budd, 54, was confirmed on Wednesday as the first Black woman to serve as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which traces its history to the late 17th century (article available here).
The Governor’s Council voted unanimously to confirm Budd, who has been on the court since 2016 and was nominated by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to replace the late Ralph Gants as chief justice, called her “an exceptional and dignified jurist that has served on the Supreme Judicial Court with fairness and integrity.”
Justice Budd has served on the court since 2016. She is a Harvard Law School graduate who previously worked as a litigation associate at Mintz Levin and as an assistant U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, serving in the major crimes and drug units.
The Supreme Judicial Court is Massachusetts’ highest appellate court, with a chief justice and six associate justices.