Herbert P. Wilkins Explained

Herbert P. Wilkins
Office:Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Termstart:1996
Termend:October 13, 1999
Nominator:William Weld
Predecessor:Paul J. Liacos
Successor:Margaret H. Marshall
Office2:Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Termstart2:1972
Termend2:September 30, 1996
Nominator2:John A. Volpe
Predecessor2:Jacob Spiegel
Birth Date:10 January 1930
Birth Place:Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.

Herbert Putnam Wilkins (born January 10, 1930)[1] is an American jurist who served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1996 to 1999, a position his father, Raymond Sanger Wilkins, held from 1956 to 1970.

Wilkins received his B.A. from Harvard College and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He joined the law firm of Palmer and Dodge.[2]

He had the longest tenure of any Associate Justice of the Court (from 1972) when he was nominated Chief Judge by Governor William Weld on July 16, 1996.[3] He retired from the Court on August 31, 1999.[4]

Since retiring from the court, Justice Wilkins has taught at Boston College Law School.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Who's Who in American Law, 1998-1999. 1998. Marquis Who's Who. 836.
  2. Boston College Law: "Herbert P. Wilkins", accessed December 21, 2010
  3. Boston Globe: Frank Phillips and John Ellement, "Weld picks Wilkins for chief justice," July 17, 1996
  4. Boston Globe: Edgar J. Driscoll Jr.,, "Francis J. Quirico, at 88; Was Supreme Judicial Court Justice," October 13, 1999
  5. Boston Globe: Jonathan Saltzman, "Sitting SJC judge may rise to chief," July 23, 2010