Massachusetts General Laws Part III. Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases (Ch. 211-262) Ch. 211B, § 2

There shall be 82 justices appointed to the superior court department, 15 justices appointed to the housing court department, 7 justices appointed to the land court department, 59 justices appointed to the probate and family court department, 30 justices appointed to the Boston municipal court department, 42 justices appointed to the juvenile court department and 158 justices and special justices appointed to the district court department. Except in the case of circuit justices, said appointments, in the case of the housing court department, the probate and family court department, the juvenile court department, and the district court department, shall be made to a particular division within the department and a justice so appointed shall be considered a justice of the department for that division.