Ten judges recognized as 2026 Fellows by Justice Ruffin Society
Ten Judicial Leaders Honored by the Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society in Boston
Ten sitting and retired judges received recognition as the 2026 Class of Distinguished Fellows from the Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society during an October 29 ceremony at Northeastern University’s Alumni Center. The event also included posthumous honors for two jurists and a surprise recognition for a former state chief justice.
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly Budd joined the honorees alongside Margaret A. Burnham and Geraldine S. Hines. Additional inductees included Michael C. Bolden, Frederick L. Brown, Kathleen E. Coffey, Michelle Fentress, and Pamela M. Dashiell, alongside Hon. Angel Kelley, US Court-Massachusetts and Michael E. Williams.
Ruffin Society Honors Late Judges Julian T. Houston and Leslie E. Harris
The Ruffin Society board dedicated portions of the October 29 gathering to honor the late Hon. Julian T. Houston and the late Hon. Leslie E. Harris for their contributions to the courts and the broader community. Anthony Owens, president of the society, noted the significance of gathering accomplished legal leaders to celebrate these figures.
“The Ruffin Society Board was pleased to recognize Hon. Julian T. Houston and Hon. Leslie E. "Harris, both known for their essential work in the courts and community," Owens said.”
Attendees also marked a milestone for retired Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick Ireland, who received a surprise recognition for spending more than 50 years working within the legal field. Ireland currently serves as a Northeastern University Distinguished Professor.
A Gathering of Massachusetts Criminal Justice Leadership
The ceremony drew prominent figures from across the state’s legal and public safety infrastructure. The audience included Appeals Court Associate Justice Kenneth Desmond Jr., Boston Municipal Court Chief Justice Tracy Lee Lyons, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, former Suffolk District Attorney Ralph C. Martin, and Massachusetts Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill.
Tufts University Police Chief Yolanda Smith and Department Captain Detective Lisa Butner also attended the event at the university’s Alumni Center.
History of the Ruffin Society
Founded in 1984, the Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society aims to support persons of color working within the Massachusetts criminal justice system and to foster understanding between communities of color and criminal justice professionals. The organization takes its name from Justice George Lewis Ruffin, who in 1883 became the first Black judge to preside at a US court when he was appointed First Justice at the Boston Municipal Court.
Justice Ruffin graduated from Harvard Law School in 1869, making him the first Black person to graduate from the institution, and served in the Massachusetts State Legislature prior to his judicial appointment in Charlestown.