Judge Sandra Lynch to Become First Woman to Lead the First Circuit Court of Appeals

BOSTON  (May 7, 2008) -- On Monday, June 16, 2008, Judge Sandra Lynch will become the ninth Chief Judge of the First Circuit Court of Appeals since Congress created the position in 1948, and will be the first woman to have held the post. Judge Lynch will succeed Chief Judge Boudin who has served with distinction as chief judge since 2001. Judge Boudin will remain on the court in regular, active service. As chief judge, Judge Lynch will serve as executive officer of both the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the Judicial Council of the First Circuit. She will also represent the First Circuit in biannual meetings of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the judiciary's national policy making body.

Judge Lynch has served 13 years on the First Circuit Court of Appeals and is the first and only woman judge on that court. She was appointed by President Clinton to the court on May 1, 1995, on the recommendations of Senators Kennedy and Kerry. Judge Lynch received her A.B. degree from Wellesley College in 1968 and her J.D., cum laude, from Boston University Law School in 1971. She served as a law clerk to Judge Raymond Pettine of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, and was the first female law clerk on that court.

Before coming to the federal bench, Judge Lynch served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, General Counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Education, and was a partner in the Boston law firm of Foley, Hoag & Eliot. She was the first woman to chair the litigation department of that firm. She was President of the Boston Bar Association in 1992-93 and has been active in American Bar Association and local bar matters. Since becoming a judge, she has served on the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management for the U.S. Courts.

The First Circuit encompasses Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island. It includes the court of appeals and the federal trial and bankruptcy courts in each of these districts.

The chief judge of the circuit assumes the position based on seniority. The chief judge is the judge in regular active service who is senior in commission of those judges who are (1) 64 years of age or younger; (2) have served for one year or more as a circuit judge; and (3) have not served previously as chief judge. The term of office is seven years, or until the incumbent turns 70, whichever comes first. The process is authorized by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 45.

Judge Lynch will be sworn in at a ceremony at the Moakley Courthouse on June 16 at 2 p.m.

For further information, please contact Circuit Executive, Gary Wente, 617-748-9613 or Deputy Circuit Executive, Susan Goldberg, 617-748-9614.

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