Randy S. Chapman at a glance
- Current role
- Associate Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Randy S. Chapman
Associate Justice · Massachusetts District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judicial Appointment: Judge Chapman was nominated as an Associate Justice of the District Court in October 2015
- Early Career: Judge Chapman began his legal career in 1986 as an Assistant District Attorney in Essex County, where he held the role of a prosecutor in both District and Superior Courts.
Education
Additional information
- Professional Associations: Judge Chapman is a past president of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and has received recognition for his service, including the Outstanding Service Award in 2009
- Notably the chief of the Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit
- handling serious criminal cases
- Legal Education and Advocacy: Judge Chapman has lectured nationally on topics such as motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence.
- His experience in private practice included representing defendants in state and federal courts
- Private Practice: Before his judicial appointment, he was the president of Chapman and Chapman, P.C., a law firm focused on criminal law and personal injury.
- He has also served on several task forces related to jury waivers and criminal procedure rules
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
Massachusetts District Court lists specified non-evidentiary, scheduling, status, civil-management, and other proceedings that may be held remotely unless the presiding judge or clerk-magistrate orders otherwise.
The following events may be held remotely unless otherwise ordered by a judge or clerk-magistrateJoint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings ↗
Courtwide
Photographing, recording, or electronically transmitting a Massachusetts District Court remote or hybrid hearing requires prior authorization from the supervising judge or clerk-magistrate.
No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, of a remote or hybrid court hearing, without prior authorization from the judge or clerk magistrateJoint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings ↗
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 District 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 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 25, 2026.
Massachusetts Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Massachusetts Court System official judicial roster ↗Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings
Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings ↗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 ↗