Ralph Gants Nominated to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - the Office of the Governor - Mass.Gov

Ralph Gants Nominated to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - The Office of the Governor - Mass.Gov

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DEVAL L. PATRICK For Immediate release - December 01, 2008 GOVERNOR

TIMOTHY P. MURRAY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Patrick Nominates Esteemed Superior Court Justice Ralph Gants to State's Highest Court

Media Contact Former Federal Prosecutor, Chief of US Attorney's Public Corruption Division Nominated to Supreme Judicial Court Kyle Sullivan Becky Deusser BOSTON- December 1, 2008 - Governor Patrick announced today the nomination of Superior Court Justice Ralph D. Gants, 54, Kim Haberlin to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Judge Gants, a highly regarded 11-year veteran of the Superior Court and former 617-725-4025 federal prosecutor, is slated to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Judicial Court created by the retirement of the Honorable John M. Greaney. "Judge Gants brings a powerful combination of strong intellect and real world understanding. He has been a thoughtful and fair member of the Superior Court," said Governor Patrick. "And he is deeply committed to securing the rights and liberties of the citizens of the Commonwealth. He will be an important addition to the SJC."

Judge Gants has served as a justice of the Superior Court since 1997 and since January as the Administrative Justice to the Court's Business Litigation Section. He began his legal career, which spans almost 30 years of public and private service, as a law clerk to the Honorable Eugene H. Nickerson of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Judge Gants then worked in Washington as the Special Assistant to then-FBI Director, Judge William H. Webster, before joining the United States Attorney's Office in Boston. He served as a prosecutor for eight years and became Chief of the office's Public Corruption Division. For six years prior to his nomination to the Superior Court by Governor Weld, Judge Gants was of counsel and then a partner at Palmer & Dodge.

A graduate of Harvard College, summa cum laude, and Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, Judge Gants is a prolific writer and lecturer. He has served for many years as an adjunct professor at Northeastern University School of Law and New England School of Law.

Judge Gants lives in Lexington with his wife, Northeastern University School of Law Professor Deborah Anne Ramirez, and two children.

Judge Gants is the Governor's second nomination to the state's highest court. In 2007, Governor Patrick nominated Justice Margot G. Botsford, also of the Superior Court, to the SJC.

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http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2008/ralph-gants-nominated-to-massachusetts-supreme.html[6/12/2012 1:55:41 PM]