[5] In 1903, he was appointed associate justice of the Lynn police court by Governor John L. Bates to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Fabens.

[6] He was appointed presiding justice of the court four years later by Governor Curtis Guild Jr.[7] Lummus authored a treatise on mechanic's liens that saw widespread use.

[2] In 1921, Lummus was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court by Governor Channing Cox to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Jabez Fox.

[2] During his first year on the bench, he presided over the trial of John Dies, Benjamin Gomes, and Joseph Andrews, three black men accused of raping a white woman.

[8] In 1932, William H. Lewis, sought a pardon for the men, contending that Gomes had had a consensual sexual relationship with Butler and Dies and Andrews were not involved at all.

Medeiros' conviction was overturned by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which found that Lummus erred by not informing the jury that the defendant was presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

[14] In 1932, Governor Joseph B. Ely appointed Lummus to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court after Felix Frankfurter declined the position.