Governor’s Council confirms 2 judges, kicks off Harnais confirmation
Governor’s councilors confirmed two judges to the bench on Wednesday and signaled support for judicial nominee Robert Harnais, whose controversial appointment will be voted on next week.
Hearings for Harnais’ appointment were pushed off last month so State Police could clear the Braintree lawyer of undisclosed allegations contained in an anonymous letter that was sent to the Governor’s Council.
Following Wednesday’s hearing, it appears likely Harnais will be appointed. Three of the eight commissioners, including Chairman Christopher Ianella and Joseph Ferreira, indicated they are likely to support the nominee while Commissioner Marilyn Petitto Devaney said she would vote no.
Though Harnais was cleared of allegations in the letter, Pettito Devaney and several other councilors took issue with Harnais’s extensive campaign contributions, with total more than $80,000 throughout his 30-year career.
Nominees are barred from donating to administration officials, but Harnais’ wife donated $1,000 to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito one month after Harnais interviewed with the Judicial Nominating Committee, the body charged with vetting candidates for appointment. Commissioner Mary Hurley called the move “incredibly stupid.”
The lawyer came with a long list of praises, including District Court Judge Stephen Abany who spoke on Harnais’s behalf, calling his former colleague a “hard worker, responsible worker and ethical worker.”
Near the end of Harnais’ Wednesday-morning hearing, Commissioner Joseph Ferreira said the Braintree lawyer’s “fan base is unbelievable.”
Norfolk County district attorney’s office general counsel Marguerite Grant was appointed to serve on the Appeals Court bench in a 5-2 vote with Councilors Robert Jubinville and Pettito Devaney dissenting. Her nomination, too, faced criticism after a grueling five-hour public interview last week following a letter in opposition to her appointment by a trio of defense lawyers.
The council also unanimously confirmed Kimberly Moses Smith to the Probate and Family Court bench.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/34WjbCk
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