Governor Baker Makes Nominations to District Court and Housing Court

 Governor Baker Makes Nominations to District Court and Housing Court

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Attorney Pamela Gauvin as Clerk Magistrate of the Wrentham District Court, Attorney Joseph B. McIntyre as Clerk Magistrate of the Southeastern Division of the Housing Court and Attorney Michael J. Callahan as Associate Justice of the District Court.

 

“Attorneys Gauvin, McIntyre and Callahan 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.”

 

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

 

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.

 

The Housing Court Department handles all matters involving residential housing such as eviction cases, small claims cases, and civil actions involving personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, discrimination, as well as code enforcement actions and appeals of local zoning board decisions that affect residential housing. The Housing Court’s mission is to adjudicate all matters presented by litigants within its jurisdiction regarding housing in a fair, efficient and timely manner according to the rule of law and the facts presented. Led by Chief Justice Timothy F. Sullivan, the Housing Court currently has 15 judges and they sit in 6 divisions Central, Eastern, Metro South, Northeast, Southeast, and Western.

 

For more information about the Housing 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 Pamela Gauvin

 

Pamela Gauvin began her legal career in 1994 as an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, where she served until 1998. She then practiced law for Clarkin, Gauvin, Novack, P.A from 1998 until 2012. From 1999 until 2002, and later again in 2004 until present, Attorney Gauvin has also served as a Bristol County Bar Advocate. Currently, Attorney Gauvin serves as an adjunct professor at UMass Dartmouth Law School as well as continuing to practice law as a partner at Markey & Gauvin, L.L.P. In her community, Attorney Gauvin competes in the Transplant Games of America, and is active in the Bristol County Bar Association and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Additionally, she acts as legal counsel for the Swansea Public School Special Education Department. Attorney Gauvin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1990 and her juris doctor from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in 1993.

 

About Joseph B. McIntyre

 

Joseph B. McIntyre began his legal career in 1983 and served from 1999 until 2007 as an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. From 1984 to 1998, he served as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature as a State Senator and served as Chairman of both the Committee on Criminal Justice and the Committee on the Judiciary. From 1999 until 2009, Attorney McIntyre also was an adjunct lecturer at Anna Maria College. Since 2015, he has served as Assistant Clerk Magistrate for the Southeastern Division of the Housing Court. In his community, Attorney McIntyre serves on the board of directors for the New Bedford Festival Theater, volunteers for the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational and Technical High School and volunteers for the Missionary Sisters of Charity. Attorney McIntyre received his bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross in 1979, his juris doctor from New England School of Law in 1982, and his master’s in public administration from Harvard University in 1992.

 

About Michael J. Callahan

 

Michael J. Callahan began his legal career in 2007 as an associate attorney for Mullen & McGourty, where he practiced law until 2009. From 2005 to 2007, and again from 2009 to 2015, Attorney Callahan served in various roles for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, including the Chief of the Gun Prosecution Task Force as well as the Chief of the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court. From 2015 until 2016, Attorney Callahan was the General Counsel at the Massachusetts Parole Board, before being named Executive Director, until 2018. Since then, Attorney Callahan has practiced law as a partner in his own private practice, Callahan Law Office, PC. In his community, Attorney Callahan has served as a member of the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission, the Massachusetts Criminal Record Review Board and as the Massachusetts Deputy Compact Administrator in the Interstate Compact. He currently serves as Chair & Commissioner of the Town of Medway Water & Sewer Commission, as well as on the Charles River Pollution Control District. Attorney Callahan received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 2001 and his juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 2005.