Francis X. Spina at a glance
- Current role
- Former Judge
- Current assignment
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts · State
- Judicial service
- Former
Francis X. Spina
Former Judge · Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1999-present
- Retired Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC), serving from 1999 until his retirement on August 12, 2016
- 1999–2016: Associate Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court — appointed by Governor Paul Cellucci on October 14, 1999, and retired ahead of the mandatory age of 70
- 1997–1999: Judge, Massachusetts Appeals Court
- 1993–1997: Judge, Massachusetts Superior Court
- Partner in Pittsfield law firms Reder, Whalen, & Spina and Katz, Lapointe and Spina (1983–1993)
- Second Assistant District Attorney, Berkshire County Attorney’s Office (1979–1983)
- Assistant City Solicitor, City of Pittsfield Law Department (1975–1977)
- (Chitose Suzuki/AP) Supreme Judicial Court Justice Francis X. Spina on Friday became the second justice in days to announce his retirement from the state's highest court
Education
- B.A. from Amherst College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School.
Additional information
- Nominated to the court by Republican Governor Paul Cellucci in September 1999 and assumed office on October 14, 1999.
- Practitioner, 1998-1998
- Attorney with Western Massachusetts Legal Services (1972–1974).
- Born November 13, 1946.
- Date of birth: 1946-01-13
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
In Massachusetts courts, photography, recording, or electronic transmission in a courtroom or related judicial space requires prior authorization from the judge or magistrate supervising that place, subject to Rule 1:19's separate provisions for registered news media.
No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, in any courtroom, hearing room, office, chambers or lobby of a judge or magistrate without prior authorizationSupreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts ↗
Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court current judicial profile ↗Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts ↗