Dear Commissioners and Friends of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission,
I hope you are all enjoying a restful, rejuvenating summer. It’s hard to believe it’s already the middle of August —before long, we’ll be kicking off a new Commission year!
Planning for the year ahead is already in motion, and we’re excited to share some updates. In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find news about recently appointed Commissioners, details about our upcoming September meeting at UMass Law, and more.
We’re glad you’re with us—thank you for your continued commitment to advancing access to justice across the Commonwealth!
September Meeting – We’re Hitting the Road!
I’m excited to share that the Commission’s next meeting will take place in person at UMass Law in Dartmouth! Mark your calendars for:
Tuesday, September 16th
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
UMass Law, 333 Faunce Corner Road, Dartmouth, MA
Commissioner Justine Dunlap, a professor at UMass Law, is partnering with us to shape a thoughtful agenda that will highlight legal issues and access to justice challenges affecting the South Coast region. We’re looking forward to engaging with our hosts and learning more about the local landscape.
More details to come soon—stay tuned!
Welcome to Our New Commissioners!
Over the past several months, the Supreme Judicial Court has carefully reviewed candidates to fill existing and upcoming vacancies on the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. We are proud to introduce seven remarkable individuals who bring a wide range of expertise and a shared passion for expanding access to justice across the Commonwealth.
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Virginia Benzan
Virginia rejoined the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute in 2020 as Director of Race, Equity & Justice Advocacy. She previously worked as a staff attorney in MLRI’s immigration group, served as an Asylym Officer and Training Officer at USCIS, directed Suffolk University Law School’s Immigration Clinic, and has a background in criminal defense, family law, and housing advocacy. Virginia plays a key role in statewide racial equity initiatives and holds degrees from the College of the Holy Cross and Northeastern University School of Law. -
Hon. Brandon Freeman
The First Justice of the Chicopee District Court since 2022, Judge Freeman previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Hampden County and practiced as a sole practitioner representing criminal defendants. He also served as a Hearing Officer for the Board of Bar Overseers and on the board of Hampden County Lawyers for Justice. He earned his degrees from Brandeis University and the University of Connecticut School of Law. -
Abeer Massri
A seasoned immigration and family law attorney, Abeer serves as Managing Attorney at ATASK (Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence) She also serves on the Advisory Council for MIRA (The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition). She began her legal career in Syria—becoming one of the youngest partners at a leading Damascus law firm—before transitioning to legal advocacy in Massachusetts. Abeer holds an LLM from Boston University and has taught at BU School of Law. -
Samuel (“Sandy”) Moskowitz
As a veteran real estate and condominium attorney at Davis Malm & D’Agostine, Sandy represents condominium associations across Massachusetts. He is a champion for legal aid, having helped establish the Housing Court Lawyer‑for‑a‑Day program, chaired the Massachusetts Equal Justice Coalition, and earned the SJC’s Adams Pro Bono Publico Award. He also serves on the SJC’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services. -
Hon. Joanna Rodriguez
Appointed Associate Justice of the Juvenile Court in 2020, Judge Rodriguez previously served as Acting General Counsel for the Sex Offender Registry Board. She also worked with the Committee for Public Counsel Services in District and Juvenile Courts and served as a family law facilitator in the Essex County Probate & Family Court. She graduated from Rutgers University and Massachusetts School of Law. -
Melanie Todman
Melanie is Senior Legal Counsel at Mass General Brigham in Somerville, specializing in transactional matters. She holds degrees from New York University School of Law and Carleton College and serves as the Treasurer of Lawyers Clearinghouse and previously served as Chair of the Board at Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. She also participated in the Boston Bar Association’s 2021 Public Interest Leadership Program and previously worked as both an associate and a partner at the law firm Nelson Mullins. Melanie brings deep expertise in nonprofit leadership, compliance, and equity issues. -
Nathan Wong
A committed public defender with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, Nathan began his career in CPCS’s Roxbury/Dorchester office before transferring to Worcester in 2013. This year, he commenced a three-year rotation with CPCS’s Criminal Defense Training Unit. He earned degrees from California State University Long Beach, the University of Akron, and Northeastern University School of Law.
We are thrilled to welcome these seven new Commissioners, each offering distinct expertise and a strong commitment to expanding access to justice. We eagerly anticipate the energy, insight, and leadership they will bring in the years to come.
At the same time, we extend our sincere appreciation to Commissioners Ben Golden, Leemarie Mosca, and Lisa Owens, whose terms ended on July 31st. Their thoughtful contributions, steadfast dedication, and shared vision have significantly shaped the Commission’s efforts. We are deeply grateful for their service and lasting legacy.
What We’re Reading
In a recent piece for Commonwealth Beacon, Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, invites us to embrace the mindset of “cathedral thinking”—a call to focus on long-term, visionary approaches to policymaking and community building.
Espinoza-Madrigal reminds us that “justice is not a sprint—it’s a relay race,” likening the pursuit of justice to the construction of a cathedral: “[E]ven if we can’t see the steeple, we lay stones guided by a clear vision of equal dignity, shared belonging, and thriving futures.” Amid the turbulence of shifting policies and executive orders, he writes, cathedral thinking acknowledges that meaningful progress is often built on slow, steady scaffolding—still under construction, but always moving forward.
I hope, as I did, you’ll find both inspiration and reassurance in his words.
Warm regards,
Deb