Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 56, § 59 (2026)

Supreme judicial court; superior court departments; jurisdiction

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 59. The supreme judicial court and the superior court department of the trial court shall have jurisdiction of civil actions to enforce the provisions of chapters fifty to fifty-six, inclusive, and may award relief formerly available in equity or by mandamus. The supreme judicial court shall also have jurisdiction of any civil action relative to the division of the commonwealth into congressional, councillor, senatorial, and representative districts in chapter fifty-seven, but every such action shall be filed within thirty days after the act establishing such districts has the force of a law.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 15 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1966–2022 · leading case: McCarthy v. Sec'y of the Commonwealth, 359 N.E.2d 291 (Mass. 1977).

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McCarthy v. Sec'y of the Commonwealth, 359 N.E.2d 291 (Mass. 1977). · cites it 17× “The other action was brought pursuant to G.L.c. 56, § 59, which gives this court and the Superior Court general equity jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of the election laws, including the provisions of G.”

Dane v. Bd. of Registrars of Voters of Concord, 371 N.E.2d 1358 (Mass. 1978). · cites it 4× “The motion thus failed to carry, and the nineteen inmates’ names, as well as those of the other defendant inmates, remained on the town’s voting list. In his memorandum of decision, following a summary of the uncontroverted facts as they appeared in the pleadings, affidavits,…”

McCavitt v. Registrars of Voters of Brockton, 434 N.E.2d 620 (Mass. 1982). · cites it 2× “Since G. L. c. 56, § 59, confers jurisdiction irrespective of any filing deadline imposed by G.”

Robinson v. State Ballot Law Comm'n, 432 Mass. 145 (Mass. 2000). · cites it 3× “Robinson filed a petition with a single justice of this court pursuant to G. L. c. 56, § 59, and G. L. c. 30A, § 14, seeking relief from (1) the Secretary’s decision to invalidate the 129 signatures because, he contends, the Secretary erred in concluding that the nomination…”

Hurst v. State Ballot Law Comm'n, 428 Mass. 116 (Mass. 1998). · cites it 2× “Instead, they claim, according to G. L. c. 56, § 59, 8 we have independent jurisdiction to enforce the requirement of use of “exact copies” of petition forms pursuant to G.”

Hebert v. State Ballot Law Comm'n, 406 N.E.2d 1047 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “Hyatt or anyone from C.L.T. to defraud” and that “the circulators numbered in the thousands.”

Hurst v. State Ballot Law Comm'n, 427 Mass. 825 (Mass. 1998). “30A, § 14, and G. L. c. 56, § 59. The parties filed a joint motion with a single justice of this court for transfer to the full court.”

Delahunt v. Johnston, 671 N.E.2d 1241 (Mass. 1996). “On October 2, 1996, Delahunt commenced this action, pursuant to G. L. c. 56, § 59 (1994 ed.), and G. L. c.”

Walsh v. Sec'y of the Commonwealth, 430 Mass. 103 (Mass. 1999). “The plaintiffs, the first ten signers of an initiative petition, sought relief from a single justice of this court pursuant to G. L. c. 56, § 59, after the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Secretary) determined that a number of petition forms were invalid under the rule announced…”

Morris v. Bd. of Registrars of Voters, 283 N.E.2d 854 (Mass. 1972). “This petition for mandamus under G. L. c. 56, § 59, followed. It seeks an order requiring the board to certify to the town clerk the election of the petitioner.”

Attorney Gen. v. Bd. of Aldermen, 218 N.E.2d 127 (Mass. 1966). · cites it 2× “” The Attorney General relies on G. L. c. 56, § 59, as a basis of jurisdiction for his bill.”

Stapleton v. Nyhan, 3 Mass. L. Rptr. 423 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1995). “G.L.c. 56 §59, this Court could also have ordered a de novo trial in the Superior Court.”

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