BOSTON, MA — Governor Maura Healey today delivered a ceremonial administration of the Oath of Office in the Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse, swearing in the Honorable Gabrielle R. Wolohojian as Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.
"It is an honor to swear in Gabrielle Wolohojian to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts,” said Governor Healey. “She is widely known and respected for her unparalleled work ethic, her command as a trial lawyer, and her commitment to helping colleagues succeed professionally. She has distinguished herself as a fair and open-minded jurist who prizes consensus, is an expert of civil and criminal law, and issues clear and persuasive decisions."
Justice Wolohojian began her remarks by thanking “so many of the people who have played such significant and important roles in my life, and for the different ways you have helped bring me to this point.”
She expressed gratitude for her colleagues in the Massachusetts Appeals Court, where she served as an Associate Justice for 16 years.
“The depth and breadth of expertise on that court, the dedication of its judges, the professionalism and commitment of the staff - the top to bottom commitment to getting it right and doing it well - was a privilege to be a part of for so many years. I simply could not imagine a better preparation for the work ahead of me on the SJC,” Justice Wolohojian said.
Justice Wolohojian talked about her heritage as an Armenian-American and acknowledged the contributions of generations of immigrants to the United States.
“I extend a special note of gratitude and welcome to the lawyers and judges of Armenian descent who are here today, including from as far away as California. Like all Armenian-Americans, my biggest debt of gratitude is owed to my family, not only to those who are present but to those who are not. And particularly to our grandparents and great-grandparents, whose journeys of survival and sacrifice after the Armenian genocide laid the foundation for the generations who followed them. Although involuntarily scattered across the globe, that first generation managed to take root in new countries. And here we are as lawyers, 110 years later – with an obligation to pay that debt forward through public service and pro bono work,” Justice Wolohojian said.
Justice Wolohojian acknowledged the important role that the judiciary plays in society.
“Those working inside this building stand as guardians of the rule of law –the regulators of constant balancing and rebalancing relationships between individuals and states, between those with power and those without it, between those with less means and those with more," she said.
“We must see and promote dignity among people who bring their problems before us. This does not mean we can solve all these problems; many stem from underlying societal weaknesses: lack of means, lack opportunities or instability at home or mind or conduct. These are not always strictly legal issues but they land here where we must address them with humanity,” Justice Wolohojian added.
Massachusetts Appeals Court Justice Amy Lyn Blake delivered opening remarks. Speakers included Appeals Court Chief Justice Mark V. Green; Joan A. Lukey Esq.; Robert B. Fiske Esq.; Peter J. Macdonald Esq.
A musical interlude was performed by members from Boston Civic Symphony.
Governor Healey along with Lt Governor Kimberly Driscoll delivered remarks; Justice Wolohojian addressed audience post ceremonial Oath administered by Governor Healey
Justice Wolohojian was officially sworn in on April 22nd filling seat vacated by retiring Associate Justice David A Lowy February 3rd
Prior appointment Supreme Judicial Court serving Massachusetts Appeals appointed February 7th 2008 by then-Governor Deval Patrick
Wolohojian holds BA magna cum laude Rutgers University (1982); PhD University Oxford (1987); JD Columbia Law School (1989) editor Columbia Law Review
Post-graduation clerked Judge Rya Zobel US District Court District Massachusetts then Judge Bailey Aldrich US Court Appeals First Circuit
Joined Hale Dorr (WilmerHale) partner litigation department complex commercial litigation state federal courts product liability consumer class actions false advertising business consumer transactions
1994 associate independent counsel Whitewater investigation returning practice sixteen months later
On Massachusetts Appeals led committees mentoring training new judges judicial education policies procedures rules chaired SJC Standing Committee Appellate Rules regular speaker appellate practice rules procedure
Performing member Boston Civic Symphony overseer radio show From The Top
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