Press Release: 3/13/2026

Massachusetts Appeals Court holds session at UMass Law

 

Visit sponsored by the Bristol County Bar Association brings appellate proceedings and learning opportunities to campus

UMass Law Dean Sam Panarella, UMass Law students, and justices of the Massachusetts Appeals Court pose in UMass Law's lobby.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court visited the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School of Law (UMass Law) on March 4, bringing appellate proceedings directly into the law school and giving students a rare opportunity to observe the judicial process in action. The visit was sponsored by the Bristol County Bar Association, which partnered with UMass Law to host the session.

A three-judge panel of the Appeals Court heard oral arguments at UMass Law as part of the court’s ongoing effort to increase public understanding of the judicial system and make court proceedings more accessible to communities across the Commonwealth. The panel included Associate Justices Gregory I. Massing, Sabita Singh, and Marguerite T. Grant.

"Having the Massachusetts Appeals Court hold a sitting at UMass Law is an extraordinary educational opportunity for our students," said UMass Law Dean Sam Panarella. "Watching appellate judges question counsel in real time gives students a deeper understanding of legal reasoning, oral advocacy, and the role appellate courts play in shaping the law. We are grateful to the court and the Bristol County Bar Association for bringing this experience to our campus."

For students, the event provided an opportunity to observe appellate advocacy firsthand and gain insight into how appellate judges evaluate arguments and interpret the law.

Following the arguments, students had the opportunity to interact with members of the court and learn more about the appellate process and careers in public service.

Assistant Dean for Public Interest Law John Quinn said the event highlights the value of connecting classroom learning with real-world legal practice.

"Seeing appellate arguments up close allows our students to appreciate how legal principles are applied in complex cases," said Quinn. "Experiences like this deepen their understanding of the law and demonstrate the importance of thoughtful advocacy and judicial decision-making."

The session featured arguments in two criminal and three civil matters. The Appeals Court, Massachusetts’ intermediate appellate court, hears appeals from the state’s Trial Courts and several administrative bodies and serves as the court of last resort for the majority of appeals in the Commonwealth.

The visit highlights UMass Law's unique role as the Commonwealth’s only public law school. Hosting sessions like this and—the Federal Circuit Court last fall—strengthens connections between the judiciary and the communities UMass Law serves across Massachusetts.

"Our organization believes that it’s important to provide students and attorneys with the in-person, real time dynamic of the appellate process while promoting public understanding of the judiciary," said Director of the Bristol County Bar Association, Kelly Barley. "The educational experience of moving beyond studying cases in books and seeing how legal issues are argued in real time is invaluable to students as well as practicing attorneys; we believe it helps the public and the next generation of lawyers."