Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants and the Pursuit of Justice for All in the Massachusetts Courts

Abstract

The Honorable Ralph D. Gants served as an Associate Justice and later as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for over eleven years, until his untimely death in September 2020. During most of that time, he also served as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. His work in these two settings enabled him to recognize and combat many of the problems experienced by the most vulnerable participants in our legal system, especially pro se litigants. This Article analyzes how Ralph Gants used his dual roles as Chief Justice and as Commission Co-Chair to promote access to counsel and court services, and to advocate for justice for all in the Massachusetts courts.