We are pleased to announce that District Court Judge Julie J. Bernard has succeeded Appeals Court Justice Mary Thomas Sullivan as the Chair of Flaschner’s Board of Trustees. SJC Associate Justice Scott L. Kafker remains our President and Dean.
Judge Bernard, who was appointed to the bench in 2002, also serves as an Access to Justice Commissioner and Chair of the District Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. She has participated as faculty and panelist on numerous legal education programs in Massachusetts, the National Center for State Courts, the National Center for Judicial Ethics, and the National Association for Court Management.
The Flaschner Board also lost the services of three Trustees, who recently retired: Probate and Family Court First Justice Linda S. Fidnick, Superior Court Judge Douglas H. Wilkins, and Boston Municipal Court First Justice Kathleen E. Coffey (retiring in September). Flaschner is deeply indebted to Justice Sullivan, Judge Fidnick, Judge Wilkins, and Judge Coffey, each of whom made significant contributions to the cause of judicial education and the administration of Flaschner. We hope they will continue to play a role in Flaschner’s activities as Emeritus Trustees for years to come.
As a result of these four departures, other Board members have been appointed to leadership positions by President Kafker. Land Court Judge Robert B. Foster now chairs the FJI Program Committee, which reviews and approves ideas for educational programs, events, and publications. Juvenile Court Judge Gloria Y. Tan recently became the Chair of the Nominating Committee, which identifies candidates to fill vacancies on Flaschner’s Board. Judge Frances M. Giordano now chairs the Survey Committee, which designs the annual survey sent to every sitting and retired judge seeking ideas for new programs, comments on past programs, and recommendations for how Flaschner can better meet the needs of judges.
A complete list of Flaschner’s Officers and Trustees may be found here.