Duffly, a native of Indonesia, was first appointed by Governor William F. Weld as a Probate and Family Court judge in 1992, then promoted to the Massachusetts Appeals Court in 2000.

“For someone who has spent much of her career as a lawyer serving the public interest there can be no higher calling than this," said Duffly.

She recalled immigrating to the United States at 6 1/2 and speaking no English and said, "Many, many kind people provided us with shelter, food and opportunity.”

“Every single person with every issue has a right to be heard fully and to get the full attention of every justice who is deciding the decision," she said. "I believe very deeply in equal access to justice.”

Appeals Court Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza said in a statement that Duffly was an "outstanding judge with a sharp legal mind and she will no doubt make a significant contribution to the law in her new position."

"She is articulate, thoughtful, energetic and committed to seeing that justice is done," he said.

Duffly is a past president of the National Association of Women Judges. She worked at Warner & Stackpole from 1978 to 1992, including six years as a partner. She had been on a short list to join the high court since at least 1999, when she was under consideration by Governor Paul Cellucci.

Duffly currently serves as a commissioner on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession and the Boston Bar Association's committees on pro se litigation and attorney volunteerism.

She graduated from the University of Connecticut and Harvard Law School. She is Patrick’s fourth nomination to the SJC, following Margot G. Botsford in 2007, Ralph D. Gants in 2008, and Ireland, who was promoted from associate justice.