Governor Healey has now nominated 50 judges

Boston - On November 26, 2024, Governor Maura Healey nominated State Representative Jerald Parisella to serve as Associate Justice of the District Court, making him Governor Healey’s 50^th judicial nominee. His nomination will now continue forward to the Governor’s Council for confirmation. 

“As a member of the Legislature for more than a decade and a U.S. Army veteran, Representative Parisella is a true public servant who knows what it means to deliver for the people of Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We believe that he has the knowledge, the compassion and the experience to excel on the District Court. We're excited for him to continue his service to the state, and we look forward to working with Governor’s Council as they consider his nomination.”

“Representative Parisella has a record of working collaboratively to make life better for the people of Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re grateful to him for his continued leadership, and to the Governor’s Council for considering his nomination.”

“From his work as a State Representative on behalf of his constituents, to his 30 years in the Army, Jerry has dedicated his life to public service. Jerry’s commitment to helping others, along with his breadth of experience and deep understanding of the issues, has made him an invaluable asset to the House,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “Those same attributes also make Jerry the right choice to serve as an Associate Justice of the District Court, a role that, when confirmed, he will be successful in.”

The District Court Department 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 five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state.

Governor Healey has already nominated 12 attorneys to the District Court: Heath Antonio, Leo Fama, Francis V. Kenneally, Courtney C. Linnehan, Marjorie P. Tynes, Sarah Kennedy, Edward Krippendorf, Frederick DeCubellis, Gregory Teran, Amanda Ward, Stuart Hurowitz and Polly Phillips.

For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.

About the Nominee:

Representative Jerald Parisella has served the people of the 6th Essex District since 2011, where he’s drafted numerous bills, including legalizing sports wagering and establishing programs to benefit veterans. He is the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. He also serves as an Attorney at Law at Cherry Tree Title and Law where he focuses on residential and commercial real estate conveyancing, zoning and general estate planning. He also recently retired from the Mass. Army National Guard after 29 years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was a judge advocate, or Army lawyer. Parisella was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his service in the Iraq War in 2011. He has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Emerson College and a Juris Doctor from New England Law School.