The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has a new clerk for the Commonwealth, and it is Maura A. Looney, whose resume speaks to a potent mix of legal experience and technological savvy. Appointed to a position last held by Francis V. Kenneally, now a District Court judge, Looney took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd. The clerk's role is pivotal in managing the flow and processing of cases in the Commonwealth's highest appellate court, a task that includes maintaining the docket and being the main point of communication for the parties and their counsel.
In a straightforward announcement, Chief Justice Budd praised Looney's qualifications. According to the statement from Mass.gov, Budd expressed confidence in Looney's abilities: "The Justices are confident that Ms. Looney will continue the good work of her predecessor, Mr. Kenneally, who served the Court with great distinction." Looney, who has an 11-year tenure as Assistant Clerk and Special Assistant Clerk of the Commonwealth, along with other notable roles in the legal and financial sectors, steps into this position well-prepared.
Before her ascent to this new role, Looney's career traversed through various layers of the legal and regulatory landscape. She was not only a presence in Courtrooms as Assistant District Attorney but also in the high-stakes world of finance as an associate at the Boston Stock Exchange and NASDAQ OMX. In these latter roles, she was in charge of directing changes to Regulatory and Enforcement programs, a testament to her ability to navigate complex systems and effectuate critical updates—a skill likely to be invaluable in her new position.
Looney takes the helm at a time when court technology is under more scrutiny than ever, making her background particularly relevant. She holds degrees from Boston College and Suffolk University Law School, with practical experience as an enforcement attorney and law clerk. This combination has given Looney a multidimensional understanding of the law as a dynamic system that must evolve, rather than just a set of statutes. "Ms. Looney brings a deep breadth of experience, knowledge of the Court, and technological skills to this role," Chief Justice Budd noted in her statement to Mass.gov. Under such stewardship, the future of clerkship could be not only efficient but also forward-thinking.
