Question: I am little confused as to the history of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court history. What courts operated and when from the history of the SJC? This will help me determine which records I should be looking for.
Answer: The General Court of Massachusetts existed from 1629-1692. This was replaced by the Superior Court of Judicature 1692-1780, this court is the Supreme Judical Court since 1780. From the Supreme Court the Appeals Court was created in 1972. Another court that was created from the General Court was the Court of Assistants that existed from 1629-1692. This court was succeeded by the Governor and Council Court which existed from 1692 until 1780.