In a power move, Governor Maura Healey has picked Massachusetts State Solicitor Elizabeth 'Bessie' N. Dewar for the state's top bench, according to a press release published on December 7. Healey hailed Dewar as a "consensus builder" with a wealth of experience arguing before the Supreme Judicial Court; this nod marks Healey's first visit to the state's highest court since her own inauguration.
"Bessie Dewar is a true student of the institution, and I am confident that she is the right person to fill this seat in this pivotal moment for the Court,” Governor Healey said, praising the nominating commission's recommendation and the council's thorough review, Dewar's resume includes a stint clerking for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer is leading both criminal and civil appellate litigation; her appointment is now subject to the Governor's Council's review.
As the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the state's highest appellate authority, prepares to see Associate Justice Elspeth B. Cypher retire on January 12, 2024, Dewar is nominated to step into the soon-to-be vacant seat. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll underscored Dewar's vast appellate expertise and her knack for rallying differing opinions to reach a unified decision forward, voicing her support alongside Healey for Dewar's continuing public service.
Dewar's job as the State Solicitor since 2016 has had her overseeing a slew of responsibilities, from supervising appeals across state and federal courts, dispensing legal wisdom to the Attorney General, to steering the office's amicus brief efforts; she even took on the role of Acting Attorney General earlier this year during a short period. Dewar has been an integral piece in the wheel of Massachusetts's legal machinery, bringing deliberative care to each case within her purview. Her elevation to the Supreme Judicial Court could very well be seen as the logical next step.
With a background enriched by Harvard College and Yale Law School education, not to mention a master's degree from the University of Cambridge, Dewar is well-prepared for the rigorous intellectual demands of the Supreme Judicial Court. Boston's legal circles and the public will keep a close eye as Dewar approaches the confirmation process, potentially marking a significant turn in the state's judicial history.
