Patrick Signs Mass. Court Hiring Overhaul Bill

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a sweeping overhaul of the state's court system.

The new law creates a standard hiring process for all court and probation officers. It comes after an investigative report last year found abuses in hiring and promotions.

The bill also creates a new civilian court administrator responsible for the oversight of the courts.

Even as he signed the bill, Patrick said he'd wished lawmakers had done more.

The bill failed to include Patrick's proposal to merge the Probation Department with the Massachusetts Parole Board and bring both under the control of the executive branch.

Patrick also said he found it "curious" that the legislation creates eight new administrative positions in the courts even as the state's top justices recently called for a moratorium on appointments to save existing court jobs.