--- title: "William F. Martin | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # William F. Martin Massachusetts District Court · Associate Justice ## Profile - Court: Massachusetts District Court - State: Massachusetts - Role: Associate Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Associate Justice of the Massachusetts District Court, appointed by Governor Charlie Baker in 2018, with a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, naval legal service, and private legal practice - U.S. Navy Trial Judge (2007–2012): Presided over nearly 50 General and Special Courts-Martial; rose to Deputy Chief Judge of the Naval Reserve Trial Judiciary - Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 1989-2006 - U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (1987–1993): Prosecuted and defended over 300 cases before Courts-Martial and Administrative Boards in San Diego; held the role of Special U.S. Attorney for 75 civilians in federal court - Trial Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 1986-1989 - Instructor and mentor at the Naval Justice School ### Education ### Additional information - Joined the bench in 2018 by Governor Charlie Baker after being nominated through the Judicial Nominating Commission and confirmed by the Governor’s Council - Associate Justice of the Massachusetts District Court, a state court that handles a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, and mental health cases. - Governor Karyn Polito highlighted his “demeanor, patience and compassion” ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### remote hearings Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: The following events may be held remotely unless otherwise ordered by a judge or clerk-magistrate [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote recording Scope: courtwide Photographing, recording, or electronically transmitting a Massachusetts District Court remote or hybrid hearing requires prior authorization from the supervising judge or clerk-magistrate. Evidence excerpt: 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 magistrate [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and photography Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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 authorization [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Official roster](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Massachusetts Court System official judicial roster](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/11618/william-f-martin/) - [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) - [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/11618/william-f-martin/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin", "name": "William F. Martin | KnowJudges", "description": "William F. Martin, Massachusetts District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin#judge", "name": "William F. Martin", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin", "jobTitle": "Associate Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Massachusetts District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/11618/william-f-martin/" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Massachusetts", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/massachusetts" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William F. Martin", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-f-martin" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.