Letter: Central Mass needs judicial representation

Sometimes, we need to remind Beacon Hill that Massachusetts doesn’t stop at 128; the current vacancies on our state’s highest court present one such occasion. Our Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has seven Justices, and Governor Baker will soon be the first Governor since John Hancock to appoint all seven. Amazingly, it’s been over 20 years since Central Massachusetts was represented on the SJC. Today, Central Massachusetts lacks even a representative on the Governor’s Council, which approves judicial appointments (the seat’s been vacant for a year, since Councillor Jen Caissie was appointed Clerk Magistrate of Dudley District Court). 

Geography isn’t the only way our courts fail to reflect our Commonwealth: our judiciary is only 11 percent people of color and 42 percent women. Given that a recent study commissioned by the SJC demonstrates insidious racial inequities in our criminal justice system, creating a diverse judiciary should be a priority.

Massachusetts is a proud model of inclusivity and tolerance for the nation. With the two SJC vacancies, Governor Baker should prioritize a judiciary that reflects both the racial and geographic composition of the Commonwealth.

Paul DePalo, Esq. M.Ed.

Democratic Nominee for Governor’s Council in the 7th District