Campaign Phone
6173049979
The Governor’s Council is important because it has the power to approve or reject the governor's appointments to key positions such as judges, clerk-magistrates, members of the Parole Board and other officials. This serves as a system to ensure that appointments are made fairly and with proper consideration. The Council may represent various districts in Massachusetts providing a opportunity for diverse perspectives to be considered in decision-making.
My top criteria for supporting or opposing judicial nominees are evaluating the nominee's qualifications, legal experience, and background to assess their suitability for the position. It is important that the judicial nominee's philosophy aligns with the principles and values that are important to the constituents in District 2. As the next Governor's Council, it is important to make sure that nominee's seeking judgeship have the ability to be impartial and apply the law fairly and without bias.
I will oppose any judicial nominee that does not have the commitment to diversity and inclusion on the bench to ensure that the judiciary reflects the ethical standards and integrity to serve as a judge in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The parole board candidates should have relevant experience in criminal justice, law enforcement, social work, psychology, or related fields. Parole board candidates should have a understanding of the criminal justice system and rehabilitation. Parole board candidates should have an understanding of empathy and compassion in the line of work as a parole board member. Parole board candidates must have effective communication skills, which are essential for parole board members to interact with stakeholders, parole applicants and victims.
The Governor’s pardon should evaluate the merits of the pardon's request, by including the reasons provided by the applicant for seeking a pardon and the circumstances surrounding the conviction. The Governor's pardon should consider the input from victims or their families, which is crucial in understanding the impact of the crime and the potential consequences of granting a pardon. Most importantly the Governor's pardon should assess the potential impact of granting the pardon on public safety and whether the individual has demonstrated rehabilitation and poses no threat to society.
I have spent decades gaining valuable experience working alongside judges, defense attorneys, clerks-magistrates, assistant DA’s, and police officers. As an Associate Probation Officer, I've worked to reduce recidivism and to help people who have served their time re-enter society. As a legal advocate for a domestic violence shelter and a Victim Witness Advocate at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, I have spent years working to support victims of crime and guide them through complex processes.
I obtained a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Leadership from Northeastern University. I am someone who deeply understands the importance of combatting injustice. I have the life experience, professional expertise and vision.
Campaign Phone
508-783-6357
The decisions made by the Governor's Council impact all of our freedoms and rights; they appoint judges, clerk magistrates, members of the parole board, the industrial accident review board, and more. We absolutely must make sure appointees protect reproductive freedoms, LGBTQIA+ rights, unions, and all the rights we currently value in MA. Additionally, we know we all need to work together to make real progress addressing and correcting for systemic racism at all levels of the justice system - criminal courts, family courts, youth detention, and civil courts. Governor's Councilors have a duty and an opportunity to move the legal system forward to intentionally achieve greater equity for all with the decisions they make.
My priorities include:
Legal expertise and professional experience as well as professional temperament.
An understanding of the ways historic and systemic racism continue to negatively impact people of color, and a commitment to be an agent of change to improve processes to counter the negative impacts of racism in the future.
Demonstrated support for treatment for individuals in need (for example, for substance use disorder and mental illness) and a willingness to support diversion when appropriate (for example, Veteran's court, homelessness court, and treatment).
Demonstrated investment in equitable access for all to receive the health care they need including but not limited to reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care.
My priorities include: Diversity of professional and personal experience (potentially judges, lawyers, social workers, counselors, and community representatives with the required experience). Ideally members will be able to capably consider everyone that appears before them to best equip returning citizens with the supports needed to succeed in community. Members should understand the ways historic and systemic racism continue to negatively impact people of color, and commit to be an agent of change to improve processes to counter the negative impacts of racism. Members should demonstrate support for treatment for individuals in need for substance use disorder and mental illness and understand the community pathway to treatment.
I will consider the circumstances of the petitioner in context with the MA requirements for a pardon coupled with my understanding of their personal circumstances and the ways historic and systemic racism continue to negatively impact people of color. I am committed to countering the negative impacts of racism whenever possible. All facets of the individual’s situation must be considered including any negative impacts to others, hopefully working to employ restorative justice techniques to develop constructive decisions going forward.
As a licensed clinical social worker, I bring a different perspective than others that work within the legal system. I will elevate and include the voices and experiences of those most impacted by the decisions we make with our appointments and determinations. The appointments and decisions we make will have far reaching implications in family courts, criminal courts and more that impact hundreds a people, their families, and their communities. It is vital that we commit to improving our processes to constructively address and mitigate for the corrosive impacts of systemic racism and stigma while promoting treatment, diversion, and restorative justice practices as much as possible.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone
(508)851-5339
The Governor’s Council is a body that I have a deep admiration for, and this moment in the United States and Massachusetts demands better from the council. With Abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, and the rights of labor under attack nationwide we need judges who are committed to defending these rights at home. My commitment to these issues paired with my decades of experience as a litigator and deep familiarity with the inner workings of the Governor’s Council demands me to contribute my voice to this fight. Furthermore, the Council has the ability to approve pardons and commutations and is the final stage of vetting for judicial nominees. The quality of Councillors matter, as approved judges receive little checks on their rulings.
I intend to weigh relevant judicial experience with the candidates cultural, religious, socioeconomic, gender-identity, and sexuality when vetting candidates for judicial nomination. Experience matters, but this must almost be weighed with lived experience.
Additionally, I will only vote to confirm judges that unequivocally support a woman’s right to choose and a worker’s right to organize and strike.
Prudent parole board candidates must weigh the value of re-integrating an incarcerated individual into a productive and healthy lifestyle versus the likelihood of re-offending. In order to best evaluate potential parolees, parole board candidates should have practical experience working in the judicial system with updated training in relevant areas, including, but not limited to addiction and mental health.
When considering a pardon, we must first look at the to see if there is a victim or victims, family involved in the crime, resulting in a conviction, and we must learn the victims position, if any on a potential pardon. It is also imperative to analyze the life of the defendant, including his or her age, upbringing, mental health, and addiction if applicable as well as any other factors that may have contributed or led to the defendant’s crime.
As a Governor’s Councilor I will approve all pardons put before me by the governor regarding simple marijuana possession and work to lobby the governor to issue pardons for offenders with nonviolent drug offenses.
I've been a litigator for over 27 years, with a general practice that has included civil, criminal, municipal, family and housing law. My relationship with the law extends outside the courtroom. I was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Committee (JNC) in 2012, by Governor Deval Patrick. The JNC vets and recommends judges for the Governor, prior to the governor putting them up to the Governor’s Council. I am the only candidate in the race with experience in judicial nominations and am prepared to do the job on day one. I've also served as Plymouth County Bar Association President in 2007 and 2008. This moment demands a Councillor whose willing take clear stances, I will only support nominees who are pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ+, and pro-labor.
