Legal research for Boston and Massachusetts law firms - SJC, Appeals Court and Rule 23.0
By LegiMatch Research Team · Published October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Short answer: In Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) binds every court, and published Appeals Court decisions bind the Trial Court. Unpublished Appeals Court decisions under Rule 23.0 (formerly Rule 1:28) issued after February 25, 2008 may be cited for persuasive value. In federal court, Boston is in the District of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit sits in the city.
Massachusetts courts
| Court | Role |
|---|---|
| Supreme Judicial Court | Highest court; binds every Massachusetts court |
| Appeals Court | Intermediate appeals |
| Trial Court | Seven departments: Superior, District, Boston Municipal, Housing, Land, Probate and Family, and Juvenile Court |
The department matters for research: a summary process (eviction) case in the Housing Court and a title dispute in the Land Court each have their own lines of decisions.
Citing Rule 23.0 decisions
Many Appeals Court decisions are issued as unpublished summary decisions under Rule 23.0 (formerly Rule 1:28). Since Chace v. Curran, 71 Mass. App. Ct. 258 (2008), those issued after February 25, 2008 may be cited for their persuasive value, but not as binding precedent. A party citing one should note that it's a Rule 23.0 (or 1:28) decision.
Federal courts
The District of Massachusetts sits in Boston, Worcester and Springfield. Appeals go to the First Circuit in Boston, which also covers Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.
Citations and statutes
Massachusetts decisions are cited to the official reports (Mass. and Mass. App. Ct.) and the North Eastern Reporter (N.E.3d). The General Laws (G. L. c. 93A, for example) are on the Legislature's site, malegislature.gov.
A fact-first workflow
Boston-area practice includes consumer claims under G. L. c. 93A, premises and construction cases, employment, and landlord-tenant work in the Housing Court.
- Describe the facts in plain English. Example: "A Boston tenant withheld rent after the landlord ignored months of complaints about no heat. The landlord filed for eviction, and the tenant counterclaimed."
- Limit to Massachusetts, and note which Trial Court department the case is in.
- Read SJC and published Appeals Court decisions first, then Rule 23.0 decisions as persuasive authority.
- Check treatment before relying on any decision.
- Read the statute at issue (here, G. L. c. 239, § 8A) in the version in force on the relevant date.
LegiMatch returns up to 100 similar decisions for each matter, ranked by a match score that shows how much facts, legal issues, statutes, jurisdiction and recency contributed. Every result is a real decision linked to the court's text. It supports your research and doesn't give legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cite a Rule 1:28 decision?
Yes, for persuasive value, if it was issued after February 25, 2008. Rule 1:28 is now Rule 23.0.
Which federal court of appeals covers Boston?
The First Circuit, which sits in Boston.
Where can I read the Massachusetts General Laws for free?
On the Legislature's official site, malegislature.gov.
Sources
- Chace v. Curran, 71 Mass. App. Ct. 258 (2008)
- Massachusetts Appeals Court Rule 23.0
- Massachusetts Court System (mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-court-system)
- United States Courts, court locator (uscourts.gov)
This article is general information about legal research, not legal advice. Verify every authority before relying on it.
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