The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Boston Judicial Youth Corps program at a ceremony held May 6 at the John Adams Courthouse.
The event highlighted the impact of the six-week summer internship, which introduces high school students to careers in law and court operations. The program pairs students with legal professionals and court staff, offering hands-on experience and education about how courts serve communities.
Since its founding in 1991, more than 900 students have completed the Boston JYC program. Many participants have gone on to become lawyers, judges, and professionals in other fields, with most continuing to live and work in Massachusetts. Speakers at the ceremony included Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd; retired Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland; Educational Director Gerald Howland; and several alumni who shared their experiences.
“The value of this program for students is clear. The JYC gives students interesting work experience that can serve as a steppingstone for future employment, and it teaches them about a fundamental institution in our system of government. But the value of this program for our court system is perhaps even greater,” Chief Justice Budd said. “One of the issues that I have spoken about often during my tenure as Chief Justice has been the importance of maintaining trust and confidence in the courts. By enabling students to work inside the courts, the JYC gives them the opportunity see firsthand how judges, clerks, court officers and other staff strive to deliver justice each day – to do what is right, to apply the law fairly, and to treat each person with respect. That experience can go a long way in building trust and confidence in our courts.”
Retired Chief Justice Ireland said: “The Judicial Youth Corps may be the one and only project in the entire court system where everyone involved is in agreement that they did something good; that they made a difference in the life of a young person. There are so many success stories. You are lawyers, doctors, teachers, chefs, pharmacists, judges, public service employees and more. Good people living your lives serving your communities and making a difference for yourself and others. You are using your talents to lead a purposeful life.”
According to the official website, The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court acts as both an appellate authority over lower courts within Massachusetts—making it one of oldest continuously functioning appellate courts—and oversees regulation of legal practice while providing advisory opinions on key legal issues within state government.
Funding for Boston’s JYC comes from city youth initiatives such as Boston’s Youth Fund alongside support from organizations like Boston Private Industry Council.
Originally launched by then-Chief Justice Paul J. Liacos with active planning involvement from Judge Roderick L. Ireland (later Chief Justice), JYC was designed as an inclusive paid internship requiring rigorous application processes aimed at educating diverse groups about judicial systems during summer months.
Having started solely within Boston three decades ago before expanding into Springfield & Worcester regions since inception—the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court continues contributing toward educational outreach efforts around justice administration.
