Herbert P. Wilkins

Herbert P. Wilkins
Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office
1996 – October 13, 1999
Nominated byWilliam Weld
Preceded byPaul J. Liacos
Succeeded byMargaret H. Marshall
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office
1972 – September 30, 1996
Nominated byJohn A. Volpe
Preceded byJacob Spiegel
Personal details
Born(1930-01-10)January 10, 1930
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMay 27, 2025(2025-05-27) (aged 95)
RelationsRaymond Sanger Wilkins (father)

Herbert Putnam Wilkins (January 10, 1930 – May 27, 2025) was an American jurist who served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1996 to 1999, a position his father, Raymond Sanger Wilkins, held from 1956 to 1970.

Life and career

Wilkins was born on January 10, 1930.[1] He received his B.A. from Harvard College and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He joined the law firm of Palmer and Dodge.[2]

He had the longest tenure of any Associate Justice of the Court (from 1972) when he was nominated Chief Judge by Governor William Weld on July 16, 1996.[3] He retired from the Court on August 31, 1999.[4]

After retiring from the court, Justice Wilkins taught at Boston College Law School.[5] He died on May 27, 2025, at the age of 94.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ Who's Who in American Law, 1998-1999. Marquis Who's Who. 1998. p. 836.
  2. ^ Boston College Law: "Herbert P. Wilkins", accessed December 21, 2010
  3. ^ Boston Globe: Frank Phillips and John Ellement, "Weld picks Wilkins for chief justice," July 17, 1996
  4. ^ Boston Globe: Edgar J. Driscoll Jr.,, "Francis J. Quirico, at 88; Was Supreme Judicial Court Justice," October 13, 1999
  5. ^ Boston Globe: Jonathan Saltzman, "Sitting SJC judge may rise to chief," July 23, 2010
  6. ^ Alanez, Tonya (June 1, 2025). "Former chief justice of SJC, Herbert P. Wilkins, dies at 95". The Boston Globe.