---
title: "Kenneth V. Desmond Jr. | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-v-desmond-jr-ma"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Kenneth V. Desmond Jr.

Massachusetts Appeals Court · Associate Justice

## Profile

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

## Summary

Kenneth V. Desmond Jr. — Massachusetts Appeals Court

## Sources

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

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, appointed by Governor Charles Baker on August 22, 2016 to succeed Justice Gary Stephen Katzmann
- 2012–2016: Associate Justice, Massachusetts Superior Court, appointed by Governor Deval Patrick
- 2005–2013: Associate Justice, Boston Municipal Court; later Presiding Justice of Dorchester Drug Court

### Education


### Additional information

- Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1963, Desmond earned his B.A. from Tufts University in 1985 and his J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1990.
- Desmond is a trustee of the Flaschner Judicial Institute, a member of the Massachusetts Judges Conference, and has participated in judicial delegations to China to promote the rule of law.
- He has also taught in legal education settings such as the National Business Institute Judicial Forum and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education
- As an Appeals Court Justice, Desmond has handled a wide range of cases, including criminal, civil, and family law matters.
- He has been active in racial equity initiatives within the Massachusetts judicial system, serving on the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association board and as Vice President of the Massachusetts Black Judges Conference.
- He has also contributed to the Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Board on Probation and the Trial Court Cross-Departmental Working Group on Race and Ethnicity Reporting



## 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.