Section 26. A majority of the supreme judicial court, in consultation with the chief justice of the trial court shall design and implement a program for performance evaluation of judges. The sole purpose of said program shall be the improvement of the performance of individual judges and of the judiciary as a whole and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all information compiled by said program shall be confidential. Said court may consult with individuals and organizations and may contract for technical assistance for the purpose of said program to the extent it deems necessary.
Structure 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 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 24 - Services of Retired Justices
Section 25 - Disability Benefits Project
Section 26 - Program for Evaluation of Judicial Performance
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