# Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:01: Rule 1:01. Definitions; conflict with other rules

> Massachusetts · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_01

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:01
- **Heading:** Rule 1:01. Definitions; conflict with other rules
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Massachusetts Court Rules / Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rules / Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:01

## Text

Rule 1:01
These rules shall be construed to secure the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every case. Words or phrases importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things, words importing the plural number may include the singular, and words importing the masculine gender may include the feminine and neuter. As used in these rules the following terms shall be deemed to have the following meanings:
"Superior Court" shall mean the Superior Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Housing Court" shall mean a division of the Housing Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Probate Court" shall mean a division of the Probate and Family Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Land Court" shall mean the Land Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"District Court" or "Municipal Court" shall mean a division of the District Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court. Except when the context means something to the contrary, said words shall include the Boston Municipal Court Department.
"Municipal Court of the City of Boston" shall mean the Boston Municipal Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Juvenile Court" shall mean the Boston Division, the Worcester Division, the Springfield Division, and the County of Bristol Division of the Juvenile Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Chief Justice" of a Trial Court Department shall mean the "Administrative Justice" of that Department
Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Juvenile Court" shall mean the Boston Division, the Worcester Division, the Springfield Division, and the County of Bristol Division of the Juvenile Court Department of the Trial Court, or a session thereof for holding court.
"Chief Justice" of a Trial Court Department shall mean the "Administrative Justice" of that Department.
To the extent of any conflict between the
Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure
, the
Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure
, the
Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure
and the rules of the Supreme Judicial Court, the
Appeals Court
, and the various Departments of the Trial Court, the Massachusetts Rules of Civil, Criminal and Appellate Procedure shall control.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:01 Rule 1:01. Definitions; conflict with other rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_01.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:02 Rule 1:02. Sittings of the Supreme Judicial Court](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_02.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:02A Rule 1:02A. Depositions and discovery](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_02A.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:03 Rule 1:03. Uniform Certification of Questions of Law](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_03.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:03A Rule 1:03A. Trustee process](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_03A.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:04 Rule 1:04. Judicial Conference](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_04.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:04A Rule 1:04A. Attachment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_04A.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:05 Rule 1:05. Certain contracts by judicial officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_05.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:06 Rule 1:06. Records of the Supreme Judicial Court, of the Appeals Court, and of the Superior Court Department. Form, style, and size of papers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_06.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:07 Rule 1:07. Fee generating appointments and the maintenance of appointment dockets in all courts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_07.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:08 Rule 1:08. Case and filer information on papers filed in all courts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_08.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:09 Rule 1:09. Form of original executions for all courts of the Commonwealth](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_09.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:10 Rule 1:10. Form of alias executions for all courts of the Commonwealth](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_10.md)
- [Mass. S.J.C. Rule 1:11 Rule 1:11. Rule relative to the disposal of court papers and records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_11.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_MA_SJCR_R1_01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.