Boston University School of Law

The Honorable Janet L. Sanders

Education

Stanford University
B.A., 1976
Phi Beta Kappa, Honors Program, Comparative Literature

Harvard Law School
J.D., magna cum laude 1979-1982
Activities: Board of Student Advisers, Research Assistant to Professor Arthur Miller

Employment

Superior Court
Associate Justice (10/2001-present)

Concord District Court
First Justice (03/2000-10/2001)

Waltham District Court
Associate Justice (02/1995-03/2000)

Zalkind, Rodriguez, Lunt & Duncan
Associate and Partner (1990-1995)
Small litigation practice, with focus on criminal matters in state and federal courts. Experience in tort litigation and domestic relations.

Hill & Barlow
Associate (1984-1989)
Large litigation practice, with focus on civil matters, including employment law, real estate, and product liability cases. Appointed to represent indigent criminal defendants.

U.S. District Judge Robert Keeton
Law Clerk (Summer, 1984)

U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel
Law Clerk (09/1982-091983)

Foley Hoag & Eliot
Summer Associate (1980-1982)

Baker & Fine in Cambridge
Student Intern (1980-1981)

Houston Chronicle
Reporter (1975-1979)

National Law Journal, Texas Monthly, UPI
Freelance Work (1975-1979)

Teaching Experience

1995-present: Instructor, MCLE
I have been a panelist for many seminars on topics which have included evidence, practice in the District and Superior Courts, employment law, summary process law, and search and seizure.

2003-present: Panelist/Presenter at Biannual Superior Court Conferences
I have made presentations to my colleagues on the Anti-SLAPP statute, changes to the Code of Judicial Conduct, sentencing, and case updates in both criminal and civil law.

1998-2005: Instructor, Winter Trial Advocacy Workshop, Harvard LawSchool

1997-2000: Instructor, Annual District Court Conferences
I have taught seminars on use of expert testimony, civil jury trials, issues arising in the first session, and equity.

1998-1999: Instructor, Masters in Criminal Justice Program, Suffolk University
I designed a three-credit course entitled “Justice and the Community Courts” in order to give graduate students a working knowledge of how the judicial system functions, who its central players are, and what happens at various stages of a criminal case, from arraignment to sentencing.

1989-1993: Instructor, Boston University School of Law
I taught this full year course to first-year students on legal writing and research.

1982-1984: Teaching Assistant, Harvard Law School
I assisted U.S. District Judge Robert Keeton in a course on jury instructions.

Committees

  • Editorial Board, Boston Bar Journal (2006-present)
  • Chairperson, SJC Committee on Judicial Performance Evaluation (2000-present)
  • CJAM’s Committee on Judicial Performance Enhancement (2005)
  • Education committee, Superior Court (2004-2007)
  • SJC Committee to Revise Code of Judicial Conduct (2000-2004)
  • CJA Committee and Advisory Board, U.S. District Court (1992-1993)
  • Member, Massachusetts Bar Association and Women’s Bar Association
  • Brookline Town Finance Committee, Town Meeting Member (1989-1994)
  • Chairperson, Somerville Housing Authority (1987-1989)

Publications

MCLE Federal Criminal Practice (1994): "Departures under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines" and "Alternative to Incarceration"