The Supreme Judicial Court and its Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Evidence Law announced the release of the 2026 edition of the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence on April 16. The updated guide is recommended for use by judges, lawyers, and the public.
The release of this new edition matters because it provides current legal guidance and helps ensure consistency in how evidence law is applied throughout Massachusetts. The guide assembles existing state evidence law in a format similar to the Federal Rules of Evidence, making it accessible for a range of users.
Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd said, “On behalf of the Justices, I want to thank the members of the Advisory Committee for the time and effort they dedicated over the past year to produce the 2026 edition of the Guide. This eighteenth edition includes a new Section 1121 on parol evidence, which was added to provide ready access to summaries of legal doctrines closely related to evidentiary issues. It also includes updated content concerning substitute expert testimony and proving the absence of official records, tracking recent decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court and the Appeals Court. As with previous editions, attorneys, judges, and self-represented litigants will find the new Guide to be an invaluable resource.”
An electronic version is available free on the court’s website while print copies can be purchased from Flaschner Judicial Institute or Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Each sitting judge in Massachusetts will receive a complimentary copy from Flaschner Judicial Institute.
The latest edition incorporates opinions issued by both appellate courts between January 1 and December 31, 2025 as well as other decisions not previously included. Appeals Court Justice Gregory Massing chairs this year’s advisory committee alongside several judges and legal professionals who contributed as editors or members.
According to the official website, The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court acts as final authority on state law with appellate jurisdiction over lower court decisions; it stands as oldest continuously functioning appellate court in Western Hemisphere; operates within Commonwealth; contributes through educational outreach; oversees regulation of legal practice supporting public access; provides advisory opinions for Governor and Legislature.
