Wilkins was born on January 10, 1930. He received his B.A. from
Harvard College and his law degree from
Harvard Law School. He joined the law firm of
Palmer and Dodge. He had the longest tenure of any Associate Justice of the Court (from 1972) when he was nominated Chief Judge by Governor
William Weld on July 16, 1996. He retired from the Court on August 31, 1999. After retiring from the court, Justice Wilkins taught at
Boston College Law School. He died on May 27, 2025, at the age of 95. ==Notes==