SUGARMAN is pleased to announce that Principal, Marianne LeBlanc, has been appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) of Massachusetts  to serve as Chair of the Board of Bar Overseers (BBO).  Having been appointed to the Board of Bar Overseers in 2018, Attorney LeBlanc served as Vice-Chair in 2020 and will complete her four-year term in her new role as Chair of the twelve-member Board. Attorney LeBlanc has previously served as Chair of the BBO Rules Committee and as Co-Chair of the BBO Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Board of Bar Overseers

The Board of Bar Overseers was established by the Supreme Judicial Court in 1974 as an independent administrative body to investigate and evaluate complaints against attorneys. Although the Board is an official body subject to the supervision of the Supreme Judicial Court, no public funds are spent to support it. The Board’s expenses come solely from the annual registration fees paid by attorneys.

The Board of Bar Overseers consists of twelve volunteer members who are appointed by the Court for four-year terms. Eight of the members are attorneys; the other four are public members. The activities of the Board are governed by Supreme Judicial Court Rule 4:01 and the Rules of the Board of Bar Overseers. The Board acts as an administrative tribunal to consider disciplinary charges brought by Bar Counsel. When an attorney is found guilty of misconduct the Board either imposes discipline or recommends to the Supreme Judicial Court that more serious discipline be imposed.