Page 36 - BusinessWest February 21, 2022

Greaney has earned tremendous respect for his intellect, professional integrity, and commitment to the community. He has demonstrated compassion and understanding as an advocate to so many in need of a voice, influenced our societal values and ways of thinking, and continues to be
a valuable mentor, sharing wisdom and insight deemed from his impressive career. Greaney has proven that he is a trailblazer, an agent of social change, and a true difference maker.”
Court of Opinion
Long before imploring those fighting for control of the Red Sox to get some pitching help, Greaney was making his mark in a different kind of setting.
That would be this region’s housing court, an assignment that would in many ways set the tone for all that would come later.
Indeed, Greaney would essentially create the Housing Court from scratch, making it into what he called a true ‘Peoples Court,’ with the help of an advisory committee that included another member of this year’s Difference Makers class, Herbie Flores (see story on page 30).
“People who came in were not going to be intimidated, if we could help it,” he recalled. “We were going to design simple, plain-English forms to be used in evictions and other actions, and
we were going to print them in two languages, Spanish and English, and we were going to allow people to be pro se as much as we could. And
I decided in Small Claims that I would write a decision in every case.
“I then took the court on the road, which was unheard of at the time,” he went on, adding that he had sessions in public buildings, such as city halls, schools, and other facilities, to make the
court more accessible. Its home base, though, was the courthouse in Springfield, which had
no room at the time, he recalled, noting that a small courtroom was eventually secured, and for a clerk’s office, “a janitor was kicked out, and we took that space — but it was a heck of a fight.”
As noted, that Housing Court assignment would enable Greaney to make his mark and forge
a reputation as an imaginative, hard-working, people-oriented jurist. And these were some
of the qualities that caught the attention of
Mike Dukakis, who would play a huge role in
his career trajectory.
The two first met when Dukakis was
running for lieutenant governor and Greaney, long active with the state’s Democratic party, was a state delegate. Greaney backed Dukakis
in that election, and he won the nomination,
but the Democratic ticket lost the election.
Two years later, Dukakis ran for governor and won, and not long after appointed Greaney
to the state’s Superior Court. Later, he would appoint him to the Appeals Court, where he later became chief justice.
“Then he lost the next election to Ed King, and I thought, ‘that’s the end of that,’ Greaney recalled. “But he was back four years later, and he later appointed me to the Supreme Judicial Court, so I owe a lot to Mike.”
Looking back on his career and his legacy, Greaney said he carried on in the spirit of Judge Garrity, and with the same philosophy that defined his work when building the Housing Court.
“I was motivated by helping the little guy and helping society move forward, and the SJC gave me a great opportunity to do that,” he said, referring to several of those groundbreaking cases he heard
and helped decide.
One was the 1993 decision that recognized the
rights of same-sex couples to adopt children, and another was the historic Goodwin v. Department of Public Health case that led to Massachusetts becoming the first U.S. state to allow same-sex couples to marry, a ruling that has influenced many other states that have followed suit and the U.S. Supreme Court as well.
“Simple principles of decency dictate that we extend to the plaintiffs, and to their new status, full acceptance, tolerance, and respect. We shou”ld do so because it is the right thing to do.
The wording used in his concurring opinion has not only brought tears to the eyes of many gay- rights activists, but they have reportedly found their way into the wedding vows used by many same-sex couples:
“I am hopeful that our decision will be accepted by those thoughtful citizens who believe that same-sex unions should not be approved
by the state,” he wrote. “I am not referring
here to acceptance in the sense of grudging acknowledgment of the court’s authority to adjudicate the matter. My hope is more liberating ... we share a common humanity and participate together in the social
contract that is the
Greaney
Continued on page 55
CONGRATULATIONS
Difference Makers Class of 2022
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For more than 100 years, we have been the leading local financial institution in Western Massachusetts. We know the importance of working together to make a difference in our communities and that is why we are proud to support the 2022 Difference Makers.
Thank you for investing your time and energy in creating a better place to live and work. Our community is made stronger by your collective efforts and generosity. Thank you for all you do.
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