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1.Doyouhavealitmustestforchoosingjudgesand/orclerkmagistrates?Ifso,whatisit?
MaryHurley:Weneedjudgeswhoapplythelawasitexistsandnothowtheywishittoexist.Weneedjudges
whoareimpartialandhavecompassion.Judgesshouldbeevaluatedontheirexperienceandtheyshould
possesscertaincharacteristicswhichinclude:experienceintegrityhonestyandintelligence.Candidatesfor
judicialpositionsshouldhaveahighdegreeofknowledgeofestablishedlegalprinciplesandprocedures.
Considerationshouldalsobegiventocandidateswithpreviouspublicserviceactivities.Wewantjudicial
candidateswhoarepassionateaboutspecificrolesofjudgeshipsnotpeoplewhocontinuallyapplysimplyfor
thehonor,especiallyasitrelatestowomensrights,genderequalityandtheopioidcrisis.Manyofthesesame
attributesalsoapplytoclerkpositions.

JeffMorneau:Yes.JudgesontheSupremeJudicialCourtmustsupportandupholdthelawinMassachusetts
withregardtoawomansrighttochoose,samesexmarriage,andthedeathpenalty.

2.Pleasenameoneormorejudgesyouadmireandexplainwhy.
MaryHurley:TherearemanyjudgesthatIadmire,butthreewhostandout.1.JusticeJohnGraney.Herose
throughtheranksfromHousingCourttoSuperiorCourttotheAppealsCourtandthentotheSupremeJudicial
CourtofMassachusetts.HewasoneoftheswingvotesinthegaymarriagevoteinMassachusettswherehe
interpretedtheappropriateconstitutionalprincipleswithoutregardtopoliticalpressure.Whileheretiredfrom
thecourtin2008heisknownasanoutstandingjusticeandItrulyadmirehislegalmindandabilitytostand
upforwhatwasrightintheeyesofthelawdespiteimmensepoliticalpressure.2.RoderickIrelandisaformer
ChiefJusticeoftheSupremeJudicialCourtofMassachusetts.HeisnativeofSpringfieldandanother
prominentlegalmindthatrosethroughtheranksoriginallystartedoffinJuvenilecourt.Hecontinuestostay
involvedwiththelawwhereheservedasfacultyatvariousuniversities.3.MargaretMarshallwasaformer
chiefjusticeoftheMassachusettsSupremeJudicialCourt.Sheisseenasatrailblazerforwomenasshe
wasthefirstwomantoholdthatposition.ShewasresponsiblefortheMonanCommissionandthereforms
whichflowedfromitsrecommendations.AllofthesejusticesItrulyadmire,notonlyfortheirlegalprowess,but
fortheirabilitytoupholdlegalprincipleswithoutregardforpoliticalorsocialpressures.PleasenotethatI
interpretedthisquestiontoaskaboutjudgeswithinMassachusetts.Ifyouwouldlikeadditionalinformationon
otherjusticesoutsidetheCommonwealthIwouldbehappytosupplyadditionalinformation.

JeffMorneau:OneofthejudgesthatIadmireinMassachusettsisJudgeGreaney.Thereareseveralreasons
whyincludinghisstrongleadershipontheSupremeJudicialCourtwithregardontherighttosamesex
marriage.TheSJCsdecisiontosupporttheconstitutionalrighttosamesexmarriagewasunprecedentedat
thetimeandledtoanopeningofeyesandfloodgatesacrossthecountryinsupportofsuchanimportantand
fundamentalconstitutionalright.TheSupremeJudicialCourtsopinion,undertheleadershipofJudge
Greaney,wascourageousandshouldbegreatlyadmired.

3.Pleasedescribeyourexperiencewiththejudicialsystem.
MaryHurley:IbeganpracticinglawinJanuary1977whereIamadmittedtopracticeinboththeStateand
FederalCourts.IwasappointedtomypositioninthedistrictcourtinOctoberof1995andRetiredfrommy
positioninJulyof2014.DuringmytenureasajudgeIservedontheJudicialEducationCommitteewherewe
workedtoprovidecontinuingeducationforjudgesthroughoutthestate.IalsoservedontheCommitteeof
PublicTrustandConfidenceandwastheFirstJusticeoftheChicopeeDistrictCourtformorethan10years.
AftermyretirementfromthebenchIreturnedtothepracticeoflaw.Icurrentlypracticeintheareasof
DomesticRelations,CriminalLawandCivilLitigation.


JeffMorneau:Ihavebeenanattorneysince1998.Afterworkingforalargelawfirmfrom19992003,Istarted
myownpracticetofocusonrepresentinglaborunions,employees,andconsumersthroughoutWestern
Massachusetts.Ascounseltoeconomicallydisadvantagedindividualsandgroups,Iworkedonacontingency
feeoncasesrelatingtowagetheft,discrimination,andunfairanddeceptiveactsandpracticescommittedby
largecorporations.IhaverepresentedmyclientsincourtsineverycountyinWesternMassachusetts
(Hampden,Hampshire,Franklin,Berkshire,andWorcester)andinjustabouteveryfederalandstatecourtand
administrativeagencyinMassachusetts(FirstCircuitCourtofAppeals,UnitedStatesDistrictCourtforthe
DistrictofMassachusetts,UnitedStatesBankruptcyCourtforDistrictofMassachusetts,Massachusetts
SupremeJudicialCourt,AppealsCourt,SuperiorCourt,DistrictCourt,Probate&FamilyCourt,HousingCourt,
DepartmentofIndustrialAccidents,DepartmentofUnemploymentAssistance,MassachusettsCommission
AgainstDiscrimination,EqualEmploymentOpportunityCommission,andDepartmentofLaborRelations
Commission).IhavealsorepresentedindividualsandappearedIhavebeenontheBoardoftheHampden
CountyBarAssociationsince2009andservedasitsPresidentfrom2015present.Inmycapacityasa
memberoftheBoardofDirectors(membersince2009)andcurrentlyPresident,Iorganizedandparticipatedin
numerousBenchBarMeetingwhichhelptopromotedialoguebetweenlawyersandjudgesinthevarious
CourtsinHampdenCounty.

4.HowwouldyouimprovetheGovernorsCouncilsprocessandprocedures?
MaryHurley:ThereareafewproceduresthatIwouldendeavortochangetoimprovetheeffectivenessofthe
GovernorsCouncil.Iwouldseektochangetherulesforhearingssothattheywouldneedtobeheldinthe
localityfromwhichtheappointmentisbeingmade,unlessitwasastatewideappointment.Iwouldseekto
createalongertimeperiodbetweenthehearingdateandtheactualvote.Thiswouldallowforadditionalinput
fromboththepublicandcourtsystemsastothecandidatesspecificqualificationsfortheposition.Additionally,
IwouldseekwaystoimprovethetransparencyoftheofficeIbelieveitisimportantforthepublictobeaware
ofthenominationsforeachofficethiswaytheycouldgiveinputaboutthecandidate.

JeffMorneau:Ingeneral,IwillseektoimprovethetransparencyoftheGovernorsCouncilprocessand
procedures.Thejudicialselectionprocessshouldbeopen,publicandinclusivefromapplicationto
appointment.First,Iwouldimprovetheprocessandproceduresbywidelypublicizingvacantpositionstothe
publicandalllawyersinallcommunitiesasopposedtoaselectfew.Second,transparencyinselectingjudges
andclerkmagistratesrequiresanopportunityforthepublictoparticipateintheprocessbeforetheGovernors
Councilvotesonanomination.AsPresidentoftheHampdenCountyBarAssociation,Ihelpedtobring
GovernorsCouncilhearingstoWesternMassachusettssothatmembersofthepublicwouldhaveareal
opportunitytoparticipateintheprocess.Iwouldcontinuetomaketheprocessaccessibleandtransparentand
hostlocalGovernorsCouncilhearingand,inaddition,attempttohaveGovernorsCouncilhearings
livestreamedandprovidemembersofthepublicwithanopportunitytosubmitwrittenstatementsorquestions.

5.Ifyouarenotanincumbent,howmanyGovernor'sCouncilmeetingshaveyouattended?Ifan
incumbent,whatpercentageofGCmeetingshaveyouattended?
MaryHurley: IhaveattendedmanyGovernorsCouncilHearingsincludingmeetingsIwasaskedtoattend
whenIwasajustice,myownhearingandhearingsIattendedwhilepracticinglaw.Myattendancehasbeen
overasubstantialperiodoftimeandIcannotaccuratelycommentonthespecificamountoftimesIhave
attended.However,Ihavebeenanactiveparticipantathearingstospeakaboutcandidatesqualifications.

JeffMorneau:Overthelastfiveyears,Ihaveattendedapproximately15GovernorsCouncilmeetings
includinginBostonwherehearingswereconductedforjudicialcandidatesforpositionsintheAppealsCourt,
SuperiorCourt,DistrictCourt,andProbateandFamilyCourt.ItestifiedbeforetheGovernorsCouncilinmy
capacityasPresidentoftheHampdenCountyBarAssociation,attendedapproximatelythreeotherhearingsin


BostonwhereotherbusinesswasconductedbytheGovernorsCouncillors,andorganizedandattended
approximatelyfiveotherlocalGovernorsCouncillormeetinginSpringfield.IalsoservedasChairofthe
HampdenCountyBarAssociationsJudiciaryCommitteeandontheJointBarCommittee,oneofthelast
layersofreviewinthejudicialnominatingprocessreportingtotheGovernoronthequalificationsofindividuals
underconsiderationforjudicialnominations.

6.Whatareyourcriteriaforchoosingjudges?
MaryHurley:Weneedmorequalifiedcandidatestobejudges.Experience,integrity,honestyandintelligence
arefourfoundationalqualitiesthatcandidatesforjudgeshipshouldpossess.Ibelievestrongcandidatesshould
demonstratethesequalities:Acandidateshouldbeofunquestionableintegrity.Acandidateshouldbehighly
knowledgeableaboutestablishedlegalprinciplesandprocedures.Acandidateshouldpossessanabilityto
interpretandapplylegalprinciplestospecificfactualsituations.Acandidateshouldhavejudicial
temperament,whichincludescommonsense,compassion,decisiveness,firmness,humility,
openmindedness,patienceandunderstanding.Acandidateshouldbefinanciallyresponsibleandreliable.
Considerationshouldbegiventoacandidate'spreviouspublicservicecommunityactivities.

JeffMorneau:Iwillhaveageneralcriteriaforeveryjudgehowever,theCourtthatapersonisapplyingfor
andthecommunitywherethejudgewillbesittingarefactorsthatIwillalsotakeintoaccount.Thegeneral
criteriaareasfollows:Intellect:Theintellectualcapacitytointerpretandapplyestablishedlegalprinciplesto
factualsituationandtocommunicate,inspeechandwritingthereasoningbehindalegalconclusion.Integrity:
Ajudgewithintegrityisabletorecognizeandsetasidepersonalprejudices,personalitiesandpartisanpolitical
influence.Experience:Thetypeandamountofexperiencenecessaryvariesdependingonthejudicialposition.
Whilesubstantialtrialexperiencecanbeaplus,othertypesoflegalexperiencealsoshouldbeconsidered,
suchasrepresentingclientsbeforeadministrativeagencies,negotiation,mediation,teaching,andtransactional
skills.Temperment:Ajudgeshouldbeabletodealwithpeoplecalmlyandcourteouslyandshouldbewillingto
hearandconsidertheviewsofallsidesofacase.Ajudgeneedstobeeventempered,yetfirmopenminded,
yetwillingandabletoreachadecisionconfident,yetnotselfcentered.Ajudgeshouldshowqualitiesof
patience,understanding,compassion,andhumility.WorkEthic:Ajudgeshouldrespectthetimeoftheparties
involvedinalawsuit,aswellasthelawyers,judgesandcourtpersonnel.CommonSense:Ajudgeshouldbe
endowedwithcommonsense,haveasoundunderstandingofpeople,thecommunity,andasenseoftheir
sharedperceptions.CommunityInvolvement:Ajudgesnonlegalexperiencepublicservice,communityand
probonoactivities,andactivemembershipinlocal,state,andnationalprofessionalassociationsandbar
associationsisimportantandshouldbeconsidered.

7.Howdoyouorwillyouvetcandidatesforjudgeships?CandidatesforClerkMagistrate?
MaryHurley: BeingaformerDistrictCourtJudgeIknowtrialcourtjusticesandclerksfromdifferentcourts
throughoutthestate.Ihavetheabilitytopickupthephoneandgetinformationoncandidates.Inaddition,I
wouldcontactmembersofthelocalbarassociationtoproperlyvetcandidates.Iwouldalsodomyown
researchintothebackgroundofthecandidatesinaccordwithmyanswersinbothQuestion6andQuestion
1toseehoweachcandidatefitsintowhatastrongcandidateforthepositionwouldpossess.Iwouldalsohold
officehourslocallyforlocalcandidateswiththe8thGovernorsDistrict.Iwouldalsopushtoholdhearingsin
WesternMassachusettswithpropernoticegiventothepublic.

JeffMorneau:Iwillvetcandidatesbythoroughlyreviewingtheirapplicationandotherdocumentsprovidedto
measaGovernorsCouncillor.Iwillalsoreviewthequalityandsubstanceofanyrelevantwrittenwork
product,includingjudicialopinions.Iwillobtaininformationaboutthecandidatefromlawyersandofficestaff
whotheattorneyworkedwithandhadcasesagainstjudgeswhothecandidateappearedbeforecourt
personnelandstaffwhoworkinthecourthouseswheretheattorneypracticedandleadersofthebar


associationinthecommunitywherethecandidatepracticedorwillbesittingasajudge.Iwillalsoobtain
informationaboutthecandidatefromclients,friends,neighbors,andcommunityleaderswhomaybefamiliar
withthecandidate.

8.Whatcriteriadoyouorwillyouuseinevaluatinggubernatorialpardons?
MaryHurley: Eachpardonmustbeconsideredonitsownmerits.Includingtypeofcrime,ageoftheperson,
theirreputationinthecommunityandthebasisfortherequest.Forexample,arecentcelebrity,MarkWahlberg
whohasmultiplehatecrimesonhisrecordappliedforapardontogetaliquorlicense.InthisinstanceIwould
havenotvotedinfavorforapardonashehadcommittedracialhatecrimesandwasapplyingforthepardonto
receivealiquorpermit.Ialsobelieveitisimportanttolookattheevidenceforeachcandidateforapardon
hastakendramaticstridesinturningtheirlifearound.SeeBostonGlobeArticleforadditionalinformationon
thisspecificcase.

JeffMorneau:Pardonsandcommutationsareanintegralpartofthecorrectionalprocess.However,thereare
notnearlyenoughpardonsandcommutationsrequestsbeingconsideredand,inturn,potentiallybeinggranted
inMassachusetts.Ibelievethatpeoplemakemistakesanddeserveanopportunityatasecondchance.Ido
notbelievethesentencethatapersonreceivesisautomaticallyjustandfair.Instead,Ibelievethateveryone,
includingjudges,makemistakesandthateachsetofuniquefactsdeservesitsownindividualattentionand
thateveryoneeventhoseconvictedofcrimesdeserveconsideration.Ibelievethatpeopledeservecreditfor
theirpersonaltransformationswhileservingtheirsentenceandthatclemencyisatooltorecalibratethe
measureofpunishmentinlightofindividualrehabilitation.Iwouldlookatanumberoffactorsinevaluating
gubernatorialpardonsandcommutationsincludingthefollowing:(a)whetherasentencewastooharshinan
objectivesense,hastheprisonerimprovedthemselvesinworkanddeed,(b)hastheprisonerachieveda
highermoralattainment,(c)hasthepersonexpressedremorse,(d)hasthepersonbeeninvolvedinpublic
serviceorcharitywork,(e)hasthepersonexhibitedgoodcitizenshipfollowingconviction,and(f)istheperson
adifferentandbetterpersonthantheonewhocommittedthecrime.

9.Pleasecommentonanyofthefollowingissues:1).Prisonsystemreform2).Overincarceration3).
Alternativestoincarcerationforcertaincrimes4).Mandatoryminimumsentences5).oranotherissue
thataffectsthejudicialsystemintheCommonwealth.
MaryHurley:1.PrisonSystemReform:Therearesomereformsthatshouldbemade,especiallyinregardsto
timelytreatment.Inaddition,thereshouldbeagradualreleasetoallowinmatestoreintegrateintosocietywith
theappropriatesupport.Thissupportshouldincludecounseling,employmentandhousing.Byincreasing
supportforinmateswhoarereenteringsociety,thiswilllessenthechanceforrecidivism.Agoodexampleof
gradualreentryintosocietyarethecorrectionalfacilitiesinHampdenCountyunderthedirectionofSherriff
Ashe.2.OverIncarceration:Itishardtobelievethatasocietythatcanputamanonthemoonhasahardtime
dealingwithoverincarceration.Oneofthewithoverincarcerationisthatmanypeoplewithmentalillnessare
putinjailforcommissionofcrimesandoftenthesepeoplehaveadualdiagnosisofdrugabuseandmental
illness.Thereshouldbegreaterconsiderationgivenforalternativestotreatmentoutsideofprison.Inaddition,
weneedtoincreaseattentiontoprogramstodivertpeopletootheractivities,especiallythose1830.We
shouldalsoinvestinprogramsthatbringawarenesstomentalillnessandillicitdruguse.3.Alternativesto
incarcerationforCertainCrimes:GiventheincreaseinopioidaddictionthathasoccurredinMassachusetts
andthroughoutthecountrywemustincreasetreatmentsandalternativesforincarceration.Forinmateswho
havecommittednonviolentcrimesassociatedwiththeirdrugdependency.Ibelievethathavingtreatment
programsandfacilitiesforpeoplewhocommitthesetypesofcrimesisessentialtoupholdjusticeandto
ultimatelyhelptheCommonwealthandtherestofthecountrygetontherightpathtorecovery4.Mandatory
MinimumSentencing:Mandatoryminimumsentencingprovidesafunctioninthecriminaljusticesystem.
Howeverthereneedstobeareevaluationoftheabilityofjudgesincertaincircumstancestoallowfora


decreaseinthesentencetobeimposedwithcertaincrimesanddefenses.Weneedtocarefullystudyand
evaluatethemandatoryminimumsthatarecurrentlybeingenforced.5.Furthermore,thenumberofjudicial
vacanciesandclerkmagistratevacanciesbacklogsthecourtsystemandmakesitimpossibleforthejudicial
systemtodealwithnecessarycases.Simplyput,justicedelayedisjusticedenied.Thiscouldbedealtwithby
changingafewprocedures.Forexample,whenthereistobeajudicialvacancythisshouldbepostedayearin
advance.Thiscouldbeaccomplishedbyayearlysurveyadministeredtojusticesthatinquiredabouttheir
planstoretire.Inaddition,whenajusticeisayearawayfromthemandatoryretirementagetheirposition
shouldbeposted.Thiswaycandidatescanbegintobeevaluatedwellinadvanceoftheretirement,candidates
willbebettervettedwithmoretimefortheGovernorandtheGovernorsCounciltoconsidernominees.Since
the2008recessionthecourtsystemhasbeenravagedandpersonnelhasbeensubstantiallydiminishedwe
needjudicialvacanciestobefilled.Thiswayjusticewillbeadministeredinafairandefficientmanner.

JeffMorneau:ADDICTIONANDMENTALHEALTHISSUES:Judgesmustbesensitivetothechangingtimes
andtheevolvingissuesinthecommunity.Theopiateandheroinabuseepidemicisaprimeexample.Itis
criticalthatjudgesfullyunderstandthatdrugaddictionisadiseaseandnotacrime.Judgesneedtoappreciate
andconsideralternativestoincarceratingnonviolentdrugoffendersanduserssuchascounselingand
treatmentasaconditionofprobation.Toomanyjudgesandotherpeoplebelievethatdrugaddictionisacrime
andnotadiseaseandthattheyhavetoincarceratepeopletolooktoughtothepublic.Infact,the
overwhelmingmajorityoftheresearchandstatisticsmakeitabundantlyclearthattheincarcerationofdrug
usersdoesnotandhasnotdeterreddrugcrimesorreduceddrugaddiction.Thebottomlineisthat
automaticallysendingaddictstoprison,insteadorprovidingcounselingandtreatment,isafailedpolicythatis
doingnothingtohelppeoplewhoareaddictedtorecoverandleadproductiveanddrugfreelives.Itisalso
costingtaxpayersenormousamountsofmoneythatcouldbeusedtotreatpeoplewhohavebecomeaddicted
toopiatesorheroin.Ibelievethatdrugcourtsandotherspecialtycourtareimportanttoourjudicialsystem
becausetheyaddresstheissuesunderlyingcriminalbehavior,suchasdrugoralcoholsubstanceusedisorder
and/ormentalillness,andprovidepeoplewithintensive,supervisedprobationandmandatorytreatment,as
wellasrandomdrugtestingasanalternativetoincarceration.JUDICIALDIVERSITY:Judicialdiversityis
essentialtodeliveringequaljustice,restoringthepublicsfaithinthelegalsystem,andcounteringany
perceptionsofbias.Itiscriticalthatcourtsdispensejusticeequallyandadministerourlawsimpartially.Our
judicialbranchofgovernmentischargedwithprotectingourconstitutionalrights,includingtherightsofthe
minorities,childrenwithdisabilities,theelderly,andthoseeconomicallydisadvantaged.Anidealbenchis
representativeofthelargercommunity,includingwomen,personsofcolor,membersoftheLGBTcommunity,
andotherunderrepresentedgroups.Itiscrucialthatthepublichasajudiciarythatreflectsthediversityofits
community.Whentherangeofpeoplewhositinjudgmentdonotreflectthecommunitiestheyserve,thepublic
hasanimpressionthatthatjudgesarenotimpartialandwillnotmakewellinformeddecisionsreflecting
communityvalues.Ontheotherhand,whenamemberofthepubicentersacourtroom,theirbeliefthatthey
willgetafairhearingisenhancedbyajudiciarythatincludesjudgeswhoarelikethemorrepresentedpeople
likethem.Adiversebenchalsocaninspireyoungpersonsfromunderrepresentedgroupstoenterthepractice
oflawandservetheircommunitiesasadvocatesandjudges.Minorityapplicantsarefrequentlydisadvantaged
whenpoliticalconnectionsarepartofthejudicialselectionprocess.Weneedtokeepbackroompoliticsoutof
thejudicialselectionprocess.Thefactthatsomeonewasamayororpoliticianordidapoliticalfavorfor
someoneshouldnottrumptruequalificationssuchasexperience,intelligence,temperament,workethic,and
respectforothers.Whenitcomestodiversityinthejudiciary,weshouldbeproudoftheprogresswehave
madebutwestillhavealongwaytogo.IbelievethatthelackofjudicialdiversityinMassachusettscourtsisa
problemofrecruitment,notadeficitofqualifieddiversecandidates.AsyournextGovernorsCouncillor,Iwill
continuetheworkIstartedasPresidentoftheHampdenCountyBarAssociationandcontinuetoeducate
lawyersandthepublicaboutthejudicialselectionprocessandactivelyrecruitdiverselawyerstoapplyfor
judgeships.