Marijane Benner Browne Appointed Massachusetts Access to Justice Co-Chair

Marijane Benner Browne, director of Ropes & Gray’s global lateral partner recruitment, has been appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts as one of three new co-chairs of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission.

The Access to Justice Commission works to improve access to legal assistance and other resources for people who are unable to afford an attorney for essential civil legal needs. It was established by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 2005. Among its many activities, the commission works to increase the number of attorneys able to provide pro bono or limited assistance civil legal services, and coordinates with the court system on initiatives that assist individuals in understanding and navigating civil legal proceedings. 

Benner Browne has been a member of the commission since 2012, serving as co-chair of its Revenue Enhancement Committee. She has also served as a member and chair of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation; as a trustee of Bowdoin College; and as vice chair of the Boston Law Firm Group, a consortium of Boston-area legal employers dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of attorneys of color. 

The appointment was announced by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on March 26. Marijane, along with fellow co-chairs the honorable Serge Georges Jr. of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Laura Gal, will take office on June 30.