---
title: "Kathryn E. Hand | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-e-hand-ma"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Kathryn E. Hand

Massachusetts Appeals Court · Associate Justice

## Profile

- Court: Massachusetts Appeals Court
- State: Massachusetts
- Role: Associate Justice
- Service status: active

## Summary

Kathryn E. Hand — Massachusetts Appeals Court

## Sources

- [Appeals Court Justices](https://www.mass.gov/lists/appeals-court-justices)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Justice Hand has held the role of Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court since March 11, 2019, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Joseph Trainor
- Associate Justice Kathryn E. Hand is a judge on the Massachusetts Appeals Court, appointed in 2019 by Governor Charlie Baker, with a career spanning complex litigation, district court service, and judicial administration roles
- 2015–2019: Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the District Court (Southern Division) 2013–2019: Regional Administrative Justice for Trial Court Region 1
- 2006–2019: Associate Justice of the Barnstable District Court (Barnstable County), nominated by former Governor Mitt Romney held the role of First Justice of the Barnstable District Court
- 2010–2017: Commissioner of the Supreme Judicial Court Access to Justice Commission
- Official site: — Associate Justice Kathryn E. Hand
- Justice Hand has served on multiple judicial committees, mentored new judges through the Trial Court Judicial Mentorship Program, and contributed to judicial education through conferences, trainings, and panel appearances

### Education

- Boston College Law School, — Managing Editor, Environmental Affairs Law Review — J.D. (1994)

### Additional information

- overseeing 24 judges and nine divisions



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-20acbd9da185f40e1f10b2b2) — 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](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts). Collected 2026-07-26.