Lynn judge named Chief Justice of Juvenile Court

LYNN – A veteran judge for the Lynn Juvenile Court has been appointed Chief Justice of the state’s Juvenile Court Department, Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan announced this week.Judge Michael F. Edgerton, a Danvers resident working in Lynn Juvenile Court, was appointed to a five-year term Tuesday, replacing Justice Martha P. Grace who will retire from the position she has held since 1998 at the end of this month.A 23-year veteran of the bench, Edgerton served as General Council to the Trial Court from 1982 to his appointment in 1996. He holds a Master’s of law degree from Suffolk University and serves as adjunct faculty at the Massachusetts School of Law where he teaches trial advocacy.”I am humbled by this appointment given the many talented judges that serve in the Juvenile Court,” said Edgerton. “I appreciate the confidence that Chief Justice Mulligan has shown in my abilities and I look forward to building on the many accomplishments of Chief Justice Grace and addressing the many challenges that are facing the Juvenile Court.”As Chief Justice, Edgerton will work out of the court’s Boston offices and assume more of an administrative role, in charge of the state’s 47 juvenile courts in 14 counties.Edgerton’s seat in Lynn will remain open while he serves his new position.”I am very pleased to announce the selection of Judge Edgerton to succeed Chief Justice Martha Grace as the next Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department,” said Mulligan. “He brings keen intellect and superior administrative and leadership skills that render him very well qualified to lead the Juvenile Court.”Judge Edgerton is highly respected for his exceptional combination of legal acumen, professionalism and compassion. His management skills and problem solving ability will be critical as the state’s fiscal crisis challenges the ability of the courts to accomplish core functions. He will also contribute significantly to the management improvement and access to justice efforts underway in the Massachusetts Trial Court through his commitment to justice for young people and families across the state.”Along with his seat on the Juvenile Court in Lynn, Edgerton sits in Essex County as a member of the Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure and on Ethical Opinions for Clerks of Courts. He was also a member of the Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Committee on Evidence Law.He is a member of the Juvenile Court Rules Committee and Education Committee and initiated and annually chairs the Law Day celebration in Lynn Juvenile Court which is attended by a wide range of community leaders.