Judicial nominee Robert Harnais under inquiry by State Police after anonymous allegations

Governor’s Council members say they won’t move forward with the appointment of judicial nominee Robert Harnais until undisclosed anonymous allegations are vetted by state police.

“We received an anonymous letter I felt warranted further inquiry,” councilor Christopher Iannella told the Herald.

Iannella declined to detail the allegations but he involved the governor’s legal counsel because he said he “felt we had to be on the safe side.”

Harnais, a Braintree resident and former Norfolk County Special Sheriff and general counsel, is up for a $184,694-a-year job as an associate justice in district court. He would fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Dominic J. Paratore, who retired this year.

An appointment hearing scheduled for Wednesday was abruptly postponed the day before following a Herald column that mentioned an assault and battery charge against Harnais from 2002 and $80,139.36 in donations campaign finance records show he’s made over his lifetime in public service.

Iannella said Harnais’ appointment will be rescheduled pending the outcome of the state police inquiry.

State police did not respond to a request for comment.

Harnais has declined to go on the record with the Herald.

Harnais disclosed to the Judicial Nominating Commission his assault and battery charge from April 2002, noting he was found not guilty in Quincy District Court in November 2002.

Braintree Police Department declined to release the report, citing a state law that exempts domestic violence, rape and sexual reports from the public domain.

Public campaign finance reports show Harnais has donated $5,000 to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and $4,000 to Gov. Charlie Baker over the past few years.

In announcing Harnais’ nomination earlier this month, Baker stated his “decades of experience have prepared (him) well to serve as Associate Justices of the District and Superior Courts.”

Police said Harnais “demonstrated a deep commitment to the law, public service, and (his community).”

Harnais career in law enforcement spans more than three decades.

He started as a probation officer for Quincy District Court in 1984 before becoming a litigator in 1991. There, he represented clients in matters including personal injury, criminal, and care and protection cases in District and Juvenile court before starting his own practice.

He served as general counsel for the Norfolk County Sheriff’s office and was Acting Norfolk County Sheriff from October 2018 until December 2018. He has also served on the board for a number of professional organizations.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3cP0qo6