Janine Rivers at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Janine Rivers
Justice · Massachusetts Probate and Family Court
Biography
Professional career
- Janine D. Rivers is an Associate Justice of the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court in Massachusetts, appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in 2017, with a career spanning over 20 years in family, juvenile, and probate law, plus four years in social work
Education
Additional information
- Before joining the bench, Rivers was a sole practitioner since 1997
- representing clients in juvenile and child welfare, family law, divorce, custody, guardianship, contempt, and debt collection cases.
- While her official bio and court records present her as an experienced jurist with a strong background in family and juvenile law, there are public petitions and online complaints alleging bias and unfair rulings in her cases.
- Rivers has been active in the Juvenile Bar Association (Board of Directors, Vice President) and the Living After Murder Program (Advisory Board)
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts
Massachusetts Probate and Family Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 27, 2026.
Massachusetts Trial Court official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Massachusetts Trial Court official judicial roster ↗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 ↗