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Next year, the Massachusetts Superior Court, one of the oldest trial courts of general jurisdiction in the country, will mark its 150th anniversary.

The court is planning a multifaceted, statewide celebration that will focus on educational outreach to school children and adults to enhance their understanding of the judiciary.

No events are scheduled in Attleboro, but two programs are planned in Taunton:

"Justice: The Bristol County Superior Court, 1859-2009" to be held Feb. 19 to May 8 at the Old Colony Historical Society, 66 Church St., Taunton. The exhibit at the Old Colony Historical Society will offer among other attractions, visual and written illustration of the Superior Court's establishment at Taunton in 1859, notorious trials in the superior court such as the "Bicycle Bandit" in 1896 and, the 1923 trial of a serial killer as well as a look at the construction of the original and standing superior courthouses in Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton.

A look back at the infamous Lizzie Borden trial. Borden, of Fall River, was acquitted of killing her father - a wealthy industrialist - and stepmother with an axe in August 1892 in their Fall River home. Borden was held in a Taunton jail but tried in New Bedford. Bristol County convened a committee made up of lawyers, judges, public officials and members of the community who have been at work since last January at establishing local programs designed for the public.

These events to be held in Bristol County will feature symposiums on cases that span the court's history and that connect with larger public stories providing educational opportunities for students and adults to witness naturalization ceremonies and criminal proceedings, as well as dramatic adaptations of the Borden trial.

The range of programs is intended to interest local historians, librarians, attorneys, law school students from Southern New England School of Law and students from middle, high school and college levels.

"The superior court's historic milestone is an opportunity to reach out to young people and adults with educational events to enhance their understanding of the judiciary," said Superior Court Chief Justice Barbara J. Rouse. "We also want the public to join us in celebrating the many accomplishments of the court and its contributions to the commonwealth."

"The Bristol County anniversary committee, led by Judge Robert Kane, has done an extraordinary job during the past 12 months in planning and organizing a robust schedule of events that will showcase social, cultural and legal developments in Bristol County," Rouse said. "I greatly appreciate their volunteer spirit and work to benefit the public."

Established in 1859, the Massachusetts Superior Court has 82 judges sitting in the 14 counties of the state.