Wendlandt Confirmed To Join Supreme Judicial Court As 1st Latina Justice

Judge Dalila Argaez Wendlandt on Wednesday was unanimously confirmed by the Governor's Council for a seat on the Supreme Judicial Court, where she will become the state's first Latina high court justice.

Councilor Marilyn Devaney said Wendlandt, who earned an MIT master's degree in engineering before embarking on a law career, brings a unique series of qualifications to the bench, and Councilor Terrence Kennedy called her a "fantastic nominee."

Wendlandt is Gov. Charlie Baker's sixth appointee to the SJC bench, and a hearing is set for next Wednesday on his seventh nominee, Boston Municipal Court Judge Serge Georges.

Devaney said she thinks Wendlandt will work well with Kimberly Budd, whom the council last week unanimously approved as the Supreme Judicial Court's new chief justice.

Wendlandt, 51, has served on the Appeals Court since 2017. Before becoming a judge, she was a partner in the intellectual property litigation group at Ropes & Gray LLP.

Devaney said Wendlandt has an extensive list of published writings and was once appointed to propose changes to Massachusetts patent laws.

"Her legal experience even extended to being co-counsel on a death penalty matter in another state, so I am very pleased to make that motion to appoint Judge Wendlandt to the Supreme Judicial Court," Devaney said. "We have great members up there, every one of them."