By Ellen Rackley
At noon on January 8 2015, Massachusetts inaugurated its first Republican governor in eight years, Charlie Baker, who succeeded Democrat Deval Patrick. Before Governor Baker could take office, however, the previous legislative session had to come to an end. Accordingly, January 6, 2015, marked the last day of the 2nd Annual Session of the 188th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Because the General Court has the power to pass bills until the end of a legislative session, it is unlikely that an outgoing governor will have time to fully evaluate all the bills submitted in the short time between the end of the Legislative Session and the swearing-in of the incoming governor. Given the limitations on the governor’s power to prevent legislation from becoming law, may an outgoing governor pocket veto legislation submitted by a recessed legislature before the ten days have expired and the governor’s term has ended? This article argues that both practical and legal precedent indicate that he may.