Governor Baker Nominates Attorney William F. Bloomer as Associate Justice to the Superior Court and Attorney Katherine T. Barkowski as Clerk Magistrate of the Somerville District Court

 Governor Baker Nominates Attorney William F. Bloomer as Associate Justice to the Superior Court and Attorney Katherine T. Barkowski as Clerk Magistrate of the Somerville District Court

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Attorney William F. Bloomer as Associate Justice to the Superior Court and Attorney Katherine T. Barkowski as Clerk Magistrate of the Somerville District Court.

 

“Attorneys Bloomer and Barkowski will bring valuable knowledge and experience to their new roles if confirmed,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to submit their nominations for consideration.”

 

“These nominees have years of experience in public service that make each of them well-qualified candidates for these new positions,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We look forward to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.”

 

The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

 

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

 

The District Court 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. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the Commonwealth. 

 

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

 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About William F. Bloomer

 

William F. Bloomer began his legal career in 1988 as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Rhode Island before working as an associate for Shaheen, Cappiello, Stein & Gordon until 1990. From 1990 to 1999, Attorney Bloomer served as an assistant district attorney for the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. Then, until 2004, Attorney Bloomer served as an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General. Attorney Bloomer then served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Office of the U.S. Attorney until his appointment as Director of the Division of Standards for the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission in 2022. Since 2020, Attorney Bloomer has also worked as an adjunct professor at Boston College, where he teaches criminal law and procedure. In his community, he has served as a member of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, and as a member of the editorial board for the Massachusetts Law Review. Attorney Bloomer received his bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University in 1985 and his juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1988.

 

About Katherine T. Barkowski

 

Katherine T. Barkowski has over 30 years of legal experience, and first began her legal career in 1992 when she started her own law practice to serve the needs of her community. Since 2001, Attorney Barkowski has served as assistant clerk magistrate for the Boston Juvenile Court. In her community, Attorney Barkowski acts as a lecter at Saint Brendan’s Church in Dorchester. Additionally, she has volunteered for Dorchester’s youth soccer program, and for Friends of the Adams Street Library to support her local library and its programming. Attorney Barkowski received her bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University in 1985 and her juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1991.