Are you looking for a shipping solution? Maybe you need to change freight carriers? Find out what the hard working and reliable people at Team Worldwide can do over land, sea and air
Governor Baker Nominates Michelle D. Fentress and Robert W. Harnais as Associate Justices of the District Court and Patrick M. Haggan as Associate Justice of the Superior Court
BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced the nomination of Michelle D. Fentress and Robert W. Harnais as Associate Justices of the District Court, and Patrick M. Haggan as Associate Justice of the Superior Court. Attorneys Fentress, Harnais and Haggan have nearly seven decades of combined legal experience.
“The wide variety of cases tried by Attorneys Fentress, Harnais and Haggan in their decades of experience have prepared them well to serve as Associate Justices of the District and Superior Courts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am pleased to submit these candidates to the Governor's Council for their advice and consent."
“Throughout their careers, Attorneys Fentress, Harnais and Haggan have all demonstrated a deep commitment to the law, public service, and their communities,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed, I am confident that they will continue to serve the Commonwealth well as Associate Justices of the District and Superior Courts.”
The District Court hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to 5 years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and bylaws. In civil matters, District Court judges conduct both jury and jury-waived trials, and make final determinations on any matter where the likelihood of recovery is no more than $50,000 (for cases commenced on or after January 1, 2020). The District Court also tries small claims involving up to $7,000 (initially tried to a magistrate, where the defense has a right of appeal either to a judge or a jury). If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, Attorney Fentress will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Antoinette E. M. Leoney and Attorney Harnais will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Dominic J. Paratore.
For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.
The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes. If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, Attorney Haggan will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Bruce R. Henry.
For more information about the Superior Court, visit their homepage.
Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.
About Michelle D. Fentress
Michelle D. Fentress currently serves as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Suffolk Superior Court Criminal Division. Attorney Fentress began her legal career in 2006 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she served on the Central Division Team, Gun Prosecution Task Force and Major Felony Unit, before joining the Massachusetts Department of Correction in 2011 as Counsel II. In 2012, she entered private practice in Braintree, first as an Associate for Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, and then as a Senior Associate for Turk & Quijano. From 2014 until 2017, Attorney Fentress served as Prosecuting Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, investigating and prosecuting complaints against health profession licensees. In 2017, she was appointed Assistant Clerk Magistrate of the Suffolk Superior Court Criminal Division, where she conducts arraignments, bail hearings, initial probation surrender hearings and pre-trial conferences. Attorney Fentress is also an active member of her community, and serves as a Mentor for Youth Career Connect, a program that connects high school students interested in STEM careers to professionals in the field. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut.
About Robert W. Harnais
Robert W. Harnais began his legal career in 1991 as an Associate for the Law Office of John Shorton in Roxbury, a general litigation firm where he represented clients in matters including personal injury, criminal, and care and protection cases in District and Juvenile Court. Previously, he served as a Probation Officer for the Quincy District Court from 1984 until 1988, and as an Investigator for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue from 1988 until 1990. In 1993, Attorney Harnais formed Mahoney & Harnais in Quincy, a general practice firm where he remains a Partner and handles matters ranging from criminal and civil litigation to real estate conveyance and municipal permitting. Since 1999, he has also served as General Counsel for the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and was Acting Norfolk County Sheriff from October 2018 until December 2018. Attorney Harnais is a member and past president of numerous professional organizations, including the Massachusetts Bar Association (President 2015 – 2016), the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys (President 2004 – 2006), and the New England Bar Association (President 2016 – 2017). He has also served as Chairman of the Braintree Planning Board since 2008, and as Vice Chair of the Governor’s Latino Advisory Board since 2017. Attorney Harnais earned his Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law and his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
About Patrick M. Haggan
Patrick M. Haggan began his legal career in 1996 as an Assistant District Attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where he served as a prosecutor for 23 years in a variety of roles. Attorney Haggan served on the Homicide Response Team from 1996 until 2001, and on the Major Felony Unit and Superior Court Trial Team from 1998 until 2001. From 2001 until 2005, he served as a member of the Homicide Unit, and as Supervisor of Motor Vehicle Homicide Prosecutions. In 2005, Attorney Haagan was named Chief Trial Counsel, reporting directly to the District Attorney and leading the prosecution of murder cases. From 2011 until 2019, he served as First Assistant District Attorney, overseeing all functions of the agency while continuing to lead murder prosecutions and representing the District Attorney on joint state and federal criminal investigations. In 2019, Attorney Haggan joined Lubin and Meyer in Boston as a Trial Attorney, leading all stages of investigation and litigation on medical malpractice and civil suits. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School and his Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College.
“The wide variety of cases tried by Attorneys Fentress, Harnais and Haggan in their decades of experience have prepared them well to serve as Associate Justices of the District and Superior Courts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am pleased to submit these candidates to the Governor's Council for their advice and consent."
“Throughout their careers, Attorneys Fentress, Harnais and Haggan have all demonstrated a deep commitment to the law, public service, and their communities,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed, I am confident that they will continue to serve the Commonwealth well as Associate Justices of the District and Superior Courts.”
The District Court hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to 5 years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and bylaws. In civil matters, District Court judges conduct both jury and jury-waived trials, and make final determinations on any matter where the likelihood of recovery is no more than $50,000 (for cases commenced on or after January 1, 2020). The District Court also tries small claims involving up to $7,000 (initially tried to a magistrate, where the defense has a right of appeal either to a judge or a jury). If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, Attorney Fentress will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Antoinette E. M. Leoney and Attorney Harnais will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Dominic J. Paratore.
For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.
The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes. If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, Attorney Haggan will fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Bruce R. Henry.
For more information about the Superior Court, visit their homepage.
Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.
About Michelle D. Fentress
Michelle D. Fentress currently serves as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Suffolk Superior Court Criminal Division. Attorney Fentress began her legal career in 2006 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she served on the Central Division Team, Gun Prosecution Task Force and Major Felony Unit, before joining the Massachusetts Department of Correction in 2011 as Counsel II. In 2012, she entered private practice in Braintree, first as an Associate for Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, and then as a Senior Associate for Turk & Quijano. From 2014 until 2017, Attorney Fentress served as Prosecuting Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, investigating and prosecuting complaints against health profession licensees. In 2017, she was appointed Assistant Clerk Magistrate of the Suffolk Superior Court Criminal Division, where she conducts arraignments, bail hearings, initial probation surrender hearings and pre-trial conferences. Attorney Fentress is also an active member of her community, and serves as a Mentor for Youth Career Connect, a program that connects high school students interested in STEM careers to professionals in the field. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut.
About Robert W. Harnais
Robert W. Harnais began his legal career in 1991 as an Associate for the Law Office of John Shorton in Roxbury, a general litigation firm where he represented clients in matters including personal injury, criminal, and care and protection cases in District and Juvenile Court. Previously, he served as a Probation Officer for the Quincy District Court from 1984 until 1988, and as an Investigator for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue from 1988 until 1990. In 1993, Attorney Harnais formed Mahoney & Harnais in Quincy, a general practice firm where he remains a Partner and handles matters ranging from criminal and civil litigation to real estate conveyance and municipal permitting. Since 1999, he has also served as General Counsel for the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and was Acting Norfolk County Sheriff from October 2018 until December 2018. Attorney Harnais is a member and past president of numerous professional organizations, including the Massachusetts Bar Association (President 2015 – 2016), the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys (President 2004 – 2006), and the New England Bar Association (President 2016 – 2017). He has also served as Chairman of the Braintree Planning Board since 2008, and as Vice Chair of the Governor’s Latino Advisory Board since 2017. Attorney Harnais earned his Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law and his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
About Patrick M. Haggan
Patrick M. Haggan began his legal career in 1996 as an Assistant District Attorney for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where he served as a prosecutor for 23 years in a variety of roles. Attorney Haggan served on the Homicide Response Team from 1996 until 2001, and on the Major Felony Unit and Superior Court Trial Team from 1998 until 2001. From 2001 until 2005, he served as a member of the Homicide Unit, and as Supervisor of Motor Vehicle Homicide Prosecutions. In 2005, Attorney Haagan was named Chief Trial Counsel, reporting directly to the District Attorney and leading the prosecution of murder cases. From 2011 until 2019, he served as First Assistant District Attorney, overseeing all functions of the agency while continuing to lead murder prosecutions and representing the District Attorney on joint state and federal criminal investigations. In 2019, Attorney Haggan joined Lubin and Meyer in Boston as a Trial Attorney, leading all stages of investigation and litigation on medical malpractice and civil suits. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School and his Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College.
Ready for reliable and friendly service in a towing company? Combined with competitive rates? Call Force 1 Towing and Auto Body in Catasauqua at 610-266-6721