In our polarized times, straight talk about complicated subjects can be hard to find. This talk provides legal and historical background with which to assess the current situation at the Supreme Court and how it came about. Issues to be discussed include: What is meant by “The “Rule of Law?” Has the Supreme Court overruled its own precedents in the past? Are recent decisions anything different from the past? Are the inalienable rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy under the Massachusetts Constitution at risk? How dangerous is today’s Supreme Court? Are changes warranted, and if so, how could changes be accomplished? These and other issues raised by recent Supreme Court decisions will be the subject of this talk.

Tom is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and is admitted to practice in the federal courts in Massachusetts as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Boston College, a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School, and a Master of Laws Degree from Harvard Law School. He has had a long association with BC Law as an award-winning student, faculty member, moot court coach, and active alumnus. He has been a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs as well as a public speaker on various subjects. A long-time resident of Hingham, Tom has been active in its civic affairs, including service as a trustee of the Hingham Public Library. He is a member of the Hingham Historical Society.

Tom’s legal career includes government service, private practice, and law teaching, including courses on Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, Legal Process, and Appellate Advocacy. He is the Co-author of a book on Massachusetts Appellate Practice. He has been a Member of the Massachusetts Bar Association for over fifty years, working toward meaningful legal reforms within the Legislature and the Judiciary. In 2021, the Massachusetts Bar Association presented Tom with its prestigious President’s Award “for his selfless dedication, leadership, and service to the MBA and to the Massachusetts legal community.”

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library