Gabrielle R. Wolohojian Sworn in as Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

BOSTON, MA — Governor Maura Healey delivered a ceremonial administration of the Oath of Office in the Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse, swearing in the Honorable Gabrielle R. Wolohojian as Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.

“It is an honor to swear in Gabrielle Wolohojian to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts,” said Governor Healey. “She is widely known and respected for her unparalleled work ethic, her command as a trial lawyer, and her commitment to helping colleagues succeed professionally. She has distinguished herself as a fair and open-minded jurist who prizes consensus, is an expert of civil and criminal law, and issues clear and persuasive decisions.”

Justice Wolohojian began her remarks by thanking “so many of the people who have played such significant and important roles in my life, and for the different ways you have helped bring me to this point.”

She expressed gratitude for her colleagues in the Massachusetts Appeals Court, where she served as an Associate Justice for 16 years.

“The depth and breadth of expertise on that court, the dedication of its judges, the professionalism and commitment of the staff – the top to bottom commitment to getting it right and doing it well – was a privilege to be a part of for so many years. I simply could not imagine a better preparation for the work ahead of me on the SJC,” Justice Wolohojian said.

Justice Wolohojian talked about her heritage as an Armenian-American and acknowledged the contributions of generations of immigrants to the United States.

“I extend a special note of gratitude and welcome to the lawyers and judges of Armenian descent who are here today, including from as far away as California. Like all Armenian-Americans, my biggest debt of gratitude is owed to my family, not only to those who are present but to those who are not. And particularly to our grandparents and great-grandparents, whose journeys of survival and sacrifice after the Armenian genocide laid the foundation for the generations who followed them. Although involuntarily scattered across the globe, that first generation managed to take root in new countries. And here we are as lawyers, 110 years later – with an obligation to pay that debt forward through public service and pro bono work,” Justice Wolohojian said.

Justice Wolohojian acknowledged the important role that the judiciary plays in society.

“Those working inside this building stand as guardians of the rule of law – the regulators of the constant balancing and rebalancing of the relationship between the individual and the state, between those who have power and those who do not, and between those who have less and those who have more. This building reminds me every day of that noble task and of my obligation to rise to it,” she said.

“We must see and promote the dignity of the people who bring their problems to us. This is not to say that we can solve all of those problems. In fact, in many cases we can’t do so, because they stem from underlying weaknesses in our society: lack of means, lack of opportunity, instability of home, of mind, or of conduct. These are not, strictly speaking, always legal issues. But here is where they land, and here is where we must address them with the humanity and dignity they deserve,” Justice Wolohojian said.

Massachusetts Appeals Court Justice Amy Lyn Blake delivered opening remarks. Speakers included Appeals Court Chief Justice Mark V. Green; Joan A. Lukey, Esq.; Robert B. Fiske, Esq.; and Peter J. Macdonald, Esq.

A musical interlude was performed by members of the Boston Civic Symphony.

Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Kimberly Driscoll each delivered remarks; Justice Wolohojian addressed the audience after Governor Healey administered the ceremonial Oath of Office.

Justice Wolohojian was administered the official oath on April 22, 2024. She filled the seat vacated by Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice David A. Lowy, who retired from the court on February 3, 2024.

Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Judicial Court, Justice Wolohojian served as a Massachusetts Appeals Court justice, appointed to that court on February 7, 2008 by Governor Deval Patrick.

Justice Wolohojian received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Rutgers University in 1982; a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in 1987; and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1989, where she was an editor of the Columbia Law Review. After graduation from law school, she served as a law clerk, first to Judge Rya Zobel of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, then to Judge Bailey Aldrich of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

In 1991, Justice Wolohojian joined the Boston law firm of Hale and Dorr (later known as WilmerHale), where she became a partner in the firm’s litigation department. Her practice focused on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts, including product liability cases, consumer class actions, false advertising claims, and other business and consumer transactions. In 1994, she left the firm to serve as an associate independent counsel on the Whitewater investigation, returning to her practice sixteen months later.

While on the Massachusetts Appeals Court, Justice Wolohojian served on and led numerous committees, including those concerning the mentoring and training of new judges; judicial education; and policies, procedures, and rules. She also served as the chair of the SJC Standing Committee on Appellate Rules. Justice Wolohojian is a regular speaker on appellate practice and the rules of appellate procedure.

Justice Wolohojian is a performing member of the Boston Civic Symphony and is an overseer for the radio show From the Top.