Hon. Mark Mason (1958 - )

Judge Mark Mason (he/him) stands out in Western Massachusetts not just for his legal career, but for the visibility as an openly gay leader in public life. Raised in New York and graduating from Columbia University and Boston University Law School, he built a career rooted in the region that shaped him. When Governor Deval Patrick appointed him to the Massachusetts District Court in 2009 and to the Superior Court in 2015, he became one of the state’s most prominent openly gay judges, presiding over more than 275 civil and criminal trials. Mason has been outspoken about the importance of representation, and his presence on the bench helped shift expectations about who belongs in the legal system. Even after retiring in 2024, he continues to serve. In addition to founding Mason Mediation, a dispute resolution firm, he is a Trustee of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and the incoming Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section. The way Mason carries himself in public — steady, grounded, and unapologetically proud of who he is reminds us that authenticity is not a risk, but a form of leadership.  Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly has named Judge Mason as their 2026 Excellence in the Law – ADR Honoree. ​