Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 211 - The Supreme Judicial Court
Section 16 - Hearing in Boston of Questions Arising in Other Counties

Section 16. If the justice before whom an action or proceeding is tried in the supreme judicial court or the superior court in counties other than Barnstable, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth or Suffolk considers that a question of law which arises for the determination of the full court is immaterial, frivolous, or intended merely for delay, or that the interests of the parties or of the public require a more speedy determination thereof than can be reached in the sitting established for the county in which the action or proceeding is tried, he shall so certify and order the question of law to be entered and heard at the sitting of the court for the commonwealth; and all the other proceedings shall be the same as if the question had arisen in one of the above named counties.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases

Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers

Chapter 211 - The Supreme Judicial Court

Section 1 - Number of Justices

Section 2 - Quorum

Section 2a - Statement of Expenses and Costs

Section 3 - Superintendence of Inferior Courts; Power to Issue Writs and Process

Section 3a - Administrative Assistant

Section 3b - Conferences of Judges

Section 4 - Removal of Officers

Section 4a - Transfer of Causes Between Supreme Judicial Court and Lower Courts

Section 5 - Questions of Law; Hearing by Full Court

Section 6 - Questions of Law; Reservation

Section 7 - Questions of Law; Argument; Order

Section 8 - Judgment or Rescript After Decision

Section 9 - Records and Rescripts; Contents

Section 10 - Frivolous Appeals; Costs and Interest

Section 12 - Law Sittings; Adjournments

Section 14 - Transfer of Cases by Full Court

Section 15 - Criminal Cases; Hearings

Section 16 - Hearing in Boston of Questions Arising in Other Counties

Section 17 - Jury Sittings; Times and Places of Sittings

Section 18 - Sittings at Fall River; Adjournments

Section 19 - Dukes or Nantucket County Cases; Place of Trial

Section 20 - Powers of Justices at Jury and Law Sittings

Section 21 - Audit of Accounts

Section 22 - Salaries of Justices; Expenses; Practice of Law Prohibited

Section 23 - Court Employees

Section 24 - Services of Retired Justices

Section 25 - Disability Benefits Project

Section 26 - Program for Evaluation of Judicial Performance

Section 26a - Questionnaires for Performance Evaluation Program; Contents; Distribution, Collection, etc.; Frequency of Evaluations

Section 26b - Judicial Evaluation Standards; Disciplinary Procedures

Section 27 - Pre-Service and In-Service Training Programs for Justices; Administration

Section 28 - Leave of Absence for Study, Research, etc.; Restrictions