Gov. Patrick Chooses SJC Justice

Governor Deval Patrick has chosen Superior Court Judge Ralph Gants to fill a vacancy on the state's highest court.

if confirmed by the Governor's Council, Gants would replace retiring Supreme Judicial Court Justice John Greaney.

The governor cited Gants' recent work on mortgage cases among his accomplishments as a Superior Court judge for the past 11 years:

"Judge Gants will bring to the Supreme Judicial Court the same intellectual horsepower, analytic rigor, reverence for justice and compassion that has marked his career on the Superior Court," the governor said.

The 54 year old Gants is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He's been a Superior Court judge for more than 10 years.

In a controversial decision in 2006, Gants delayed plans for a Boston University Biolab by requiring more environmental reviews.