The Metropolitan Tribunal is the Ecclesiastical Court of the Archdiocese of Boston and The Metropolitan Tribunal of Boston is charged with the administration of justice, as a court of first instance and as an appellate court, for matters of the public good brought before the Church. Although most cases brought before the Tribunal involve questions of marital nullity, the court also acts as the competent forum for other issues, including penal matters.

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, then 1 to 4 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

• Declaration of Nullity FAQs
• How Can A Marriage Be Declared Null?
• Marriage Forms to Download

Ecclesiastical Court of the Archdiocese of Boston

Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese  
Monsignor Robert W. Oliver, B.H.

Archdiocesan Judges: Tribunal Court   
Very Rev. Jonathan P. DeFelice, OSB, JCL
Rev. Msgr. Michael Smith Foster, JCD
Sr. Margaret L. Sullivan, CSJ, JCL
Mrs. Maria Galindez-Bianco, JCL, JD
Dr. Andrea Ponzone, JCD, DR. IUR.
Ms. Julianne Shanklin, JCL

Moderator of the Tribunal
Ms. Julianne Shanklin, JCL

Court Advocate / Petitioner
Rev. Andreas Davison, JCL

Court Advocate / Respondent  

Defenders of the Bond 
Sr. Margaret L. Sullivan CSJ, JCL (Ad Casum)
Sr. Mary Lou Walsh SH, SND, JCL 
Rev. Cesar D. Jaramillo, JCL
Br. James Peterson, OFM, Cap, JCD (Ad Casum)

Promoter of Justice
Rev. Mark A. Mahoney, JCL (Ad Casum) 
Rev. W. Chris Palladino, JCL (Ad Casum)
Sr. Margaret L. Sullivan CSJ, JCL (Ad Casum)

Notary
Ms. Morayma Thompson
Ms. AnnMarie Lascuola-Helmar

Staff
Ms. AnnMarie Lascuola-Helmar
Ms. Morayma Thompson
The Metropolitan Tribunal is the court of the Archdiocese of Boston.

For a better understanding of annulments, see Msgr. Foster's article entitled "How Can a Marriage Be Declared Null?" 

Contacts

Monsignor Robert W. Oliver, B.H.
Judicial Vicar
Office: 617-746-5900
Fax: 617-779-4566

Ms. Julianne Shanklin, JCL
Moderator of  the Tribunal