Supreme Judicial Court Justice Kimberly Budd and Gov. Charlie Baker- Stuart Cahill/Pool

NAFUSA member Wayne Budd (Massachusetts 1989-1992) is the proud father of the newest chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. His daughter, Justice Kimberly Budd, was unanimously confirmed Wednesday, November 19, as the chief justice of Massachusetts’ highest court. She became the first Black woman to serve as chief justice. Her nomination was confirmed by a 7-0 vote of the Governor’s Council.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who nominated Budd, called her “an exceptional and dignified jurist that has served on the Supreme Judicial Court with fairness and integrity.”

Budd, a former federal prosecutor, has served on the court since 2016. The Newton resident had previously served on the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Earlier in her career, she prosecuted cases in the major crimes and drug units as an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Massachusetts in the mid 90s under then U.S. Attorney and NAFUSA past president Don Stern before going on to work in the general counsel’s office at Harvard University.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley described Budd as “a well-respected, thoughtful and dedicated public servant with a brilliant legal career.”

“As the first Black woman to lead the SJC in the court’s centuries-old history, I have every confidence that she will meet and exceed the history-making expectations her service on the Supreme Court brings,” Pressley said in a news release.

Chief Justice Budd with her dad

Proud “Papa” Budd, a past  NAFUSA board member, also served as the United States Associate Attorney General (1992-1993)  and is currently senior counsel at Goodwin Proctor LLP.