§ 1 Chief justices; vacancies
§ 1A Concurrent jurisdiction; exception
§ 1B Questions of law; reservation; report to appeals court
§ 2 Process; issuance in other counties
§ 3 Rules; power to make and promulgate
§ 3A Rules; printing and disposition of copies
§ 4 Courts always open
§ 5 Transaction of business in any county
§ 6 Duration of sittings; adjournments
§ 7 Simultaneous sessions
§ 8 Accounts and expenses; allowance
§ 9 Attendance of justices
§ 10 Adjournment to another shire town
§ 11 Adjournment in absence of justice; sheriff’s duty
§ 12 Written order to sheriff to adjourn; absence of justice
§ 13 Seal; officers of court

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 213 - Provisions Common to the Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts

  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.