USDC-MA Press Release: Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges

U.S. Courts sent this bulletin at 04/04/2024 10:24 AM EDT

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

for the

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS 

ROBERT M. FARRELL
Clerk of Court

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www.mad.uscourts.gov

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS 
Office of the Clerk
1 Courthouse Way
Boston, MA 02210

PRESS RELEASE

April 4, 2024

Jessica D. Hedges Selected to be a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Massachusetts

The Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts have selected Jessica D. Hedges to be a Magistrate Judge, subject to the required background investigation. When appointed, Ms. Hedges will sit in Boston.

Ms. Hedges began her legal career as a term law clerk at the Massachusetts Superior Court. She then entered private practice at a small Boston criminal defense and civil rights firm. She is currently a founding senior partner of the firm Hedges & Tumposky, LLP. Ms. Hedges served a six-plus year term as CJA Board Chair for the District. She oversaw recruitment efforts for the CJA Panels in Boston, Worcester and Springfield, initiated substantial revisions to the District’s CJA Plan, worked with the Federal Defender to provide regular trainings to the panel, undertook a major overhaul of the District’s CJA Mentorship Program, and helped to navigate the significant challenges faced by CJA Panel members and their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Hedges has been a staunch and consistent advocate for an independent defense bar in this District, and she provided valuable feedback to the Court on the composition and administration of the CJA Board and the CJA Panel in this District. Ms. Hedges currently teaches at Boston College and previously taught at Northeastern University School of Law.

Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV said of the selection: “Jessica Hedges is one of the most highly regarded criminal-defense attorneys in the city, with a strong reputation for being a thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate advocate. She served with great distinction as the head of the Criminal Justice Act Panel, particularly during the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the criminal justice system was under great strain and all stakeholders needed to work cooperatively to ensure the fair and continued operation of the courts. We are delighted to welcome her as a new colleague on our court.”

Ms. Hedges is a graduate of Boston College and received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.

(Contact: Robert M. Farrell, Clerk, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 617-748-9165)