Richard Gaylore Stearns at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts · Federal
- Judicial service
- November 24, 1993–present
Richard Gaylore Stearns
Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- Professional Career: Norfolk County [Massachusetts] District Attorney's Office, 1976-1982
- Associate justice, Massachusetts Superior Court, 1990-1993
- Assistant U.S. attorney, District of Massachusetts, 1982-1990
- Norfolk County Massachusetts District Attorney's Office, 1976-1982
- Speech writer, Lt. Gov. Thomas P. O'Neill III, MA, 1975-1976
- Special assistant, U.S. Sen. George McGovern, MA, 1972-1973
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, D. Massachusetts, 1993-present
- Professional Career: Associate justice, Massachusetts Superior Court, 1990-1993
Education
- Stanford University · B.A., 1968
- Harvard University · J.D., 1976
- University of Oxford · 1971
Personal record
Born 1944 · Los Angeles, CA
Courtroom rules and guidance
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
. Practical Use of Courtroom Technology During a proceeding, the Judge's courtroom deputy is the primary contact for courtroom technology. Please be aware that any requested changes may need to be reviewed and approved by the Judge prior to any changes being made.Technology in the Courtroom | United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts ↗
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
Who controls the evidence presentation system at trial? The Judge and courtroom deputy have full control of the system.Courtroom Technology ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1388266CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3088/richard-gaylore-stearns/Technology in the Courtroom | United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/attorneys/courtroom-technology.htmCourtroom Technology
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/attorneys/pdf/Courtroom%20Training%20Power%20Point.pdfFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts