Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is established.

(Nov.) Originally the Superior Court of Judicature, it is created under the new Massachusetts Charter. Its five judges are appointed by the governor and Council and it assumes the role previously held by the Court of Assistants. Samuel Sewall is the first chief justice. The oldest appellate court in continuous existence in the Western Hemisphere, it assumes its current name with the adoption of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780.* The court is currently is made up of a chief justice and six associate justices, and it meets in the John Adams Court House at 1 Pemberton Square.