Section 28. The chief justice of the supreme judicial court may grant a leave of absence for study, research, teaching, or such other reason as said chief justice deems appropriate to the improved administration of justice, to a justice of said court, said leave to be for a period not to exceed one year. Any justice who takes an approved leave of absence shall not receive pay during the period of the leave of absence; provided, however, that time spent on leave of absence shall be credited to the justice for retirement purposes; provided, further, that for the purposes of eligibility for life insurance and health plans available under chapter thirty-two A, said justice shall be considered an active employee. The chief justice, in approving such leaves, shall consider the speedy dispatch of judicial business. The chief justice, in consultation with all the justices, shall establish and promulgate standards governing the approval of such leaves including procedures for the submission and disposition of requests for leave.
No leave of absence under this section shall be granted prior to the seventh year of service or within one year of retirement. A justice granted a leave of absence under this section shall not be eligible to take another leave of absence until the expiration of seven years following his return to judicial duties.
All statutory requirements and rules of court pertaining to justices shall continue to be applicable to a justice while he is on leave of absence pursuant to this section.
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