In what marks a new chapter for the Boston Municipal Court system, Judge Tracy-Lee Lyons is set to take up the mantle of Chief Justice, starting January 1, 2024. Lyons will be filling the shoes of the outgoing Chief Justice Roberto Ronquillo Jr. to hold the reins of the court's future, as announced by the current Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey A. Locke. "She has served in key leadership roles for the Court and is committed to continuing the advancement of the Court’s accountability and efficiency," Locke said, heralding her support from judicial colleagues, in a statement.
Judge Lyons, with over a decade and a half on the bench after being appointed by then-Governor Mitt Romney in 2006, has a strong history of service in mental health court sessions and in educational roles within the court system. Reacting to her new appointment, Lyons expressed her gratitude and honor at the trust placed in her by the outgoing Chief Justice, Locke, and others, stating, "I am humbled by the support of my colleagues and grateful to Chief Justice Jeffrey Locke, incoming Trial Court Chief Justice Heidi Brieger and Court Administrator Thomas Ambrosino for placing their confidence in me." Her election promises the continuation of her predecessor's work, aiming to leave a bend towards excellence.
Her professional journey prior to joining the bench was in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, where she notably led the Sexual Assault Unit. Lyons's legal expertise is not just penned on her resume but reflected in the numerous committees she has been a part of, including the Civil Rules Committee, the Domestic Violence Committee, and the Supreme Judicial Court Judiciary-Media Committee. According to the press release, her educational background stems from New England Law | Boston and a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University.
The Boston Municipal Court Department, which Lyons will soon lead, extends across eight divisions, including 30 judicial positions within Suffolk County. A necessary component of the Massachusetts legal framework, the Court represents one of seven departments within the Massachusetts Trial Court system, which touches on 94 courthouses statewide. Aiding in the prosecution in the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, from which she helmed the Stoughton District Court and served as a Special Prosecutor in the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Lyons's ascension to Chief Justice echoes a deep-seated commitment to judicial progress in Massachusetts.
