Governor Healey Nominates Four Clerk Magistrates to District and Juvenile Courts
BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey announced the nominations of Ann Dawley as Clerk Magistrate of the Peabody District Court, Kimberly Karass as Clerk Magistrate of the Nantucket District Court, Lori Leavitt Wheeler as Clerk Magistrate of the Hampden County Juvenile Court and Padraic Rafferty as Clerk Magistrate of the Uxbridge District Court. The nominations will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.
"All four of these nominees bring a wealth of experience, integrity and dedication to the Courts that will serve our residents well," said Governor Maura Healey. "Clerk Magistrates play a vital role in ensuring fairness, accessibility and efficiency throughout our court system, and these attorneys are excellent candidates for the role."
"I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to confirm these four highly qualified candidates as Clerk Magistrates and help our courts continue to deliver outstanding service to the people of Massachusetts," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
Governor Healey has previously nominated Robert Palumbo, John P. Riordan, Dana Rutherford and John Stocks to serve as Clerk Magistrates.
About the Nominees:
Ann Dawley currently serves as the Acting Clerk Magistrate of the Peabody District Court, a position she has held since June 2025, and previously served as the Court’s First Assistant Clerk Magistrate. As Acting Clerk Magistrate, Attorney Dawley supervises daily operations of the Clerk’s Office including managing hiring and personnel issues. In addition, she oversees applications for search and arrest warrants, conducts show cause hearings, presides over small claims cases and manages the court’s case schedule. Prior to joining the Clerk’s Office, Attorney Dawley operated a solo law practice advising regional law enforcement and public safety organizations. Before that, she first served as the Legislative Director for Sen. James P. Jajuga, then as the General Counsel of the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board, and then as the Chairperson and Executive Director of the Sex Offender Registry Board. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Salem State College and a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law.
Kimberly Karass is an Assistant Clerk Magistrate at the Plymouth District Court, where she reviews applications for search and arrest warrants, conducts show cause hearings, presides over small claims trials, and conducts civil motor vehicle infraction and show cause hearings. She previously served as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate at the Brockton District Court. She has previously been designated to assist in the Falmouth, Wareham and Nantucket District Courts. Prior to joining the Brockton District Court, Attorney Karass served as a Law Clerk for the Supreme Judicial Court for fifteen years, and worked as a civil litigator at a small law firm in Boston where her practice focused on insurance defense and employment law. Attorney Karass holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rhode Island and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.
Lori Leavitt Wheeler serves as the Acting Clerk Magistrate of the Hampden County Juvenile Court, a position she has held for four years. She supervises the operations of the Clerk’s Office, including employment and personnel decisions. She is also responsible for conducting show cause hearings, overseeing court sessions, and reviewing applications for complaints and search warrants. Attorney Wheeler began her career at the court more than twenty years ago as a Judicial Law Clerk, then served as a Permanent Placement Facilitator, Assistant Clerk Magistrate, First Assistant Clerk Magistrate and now Acting Clerk Magistrate. She has also taught prelaw and legal studies courses as an adjunct faculty member at Bay Path College and Our Lady of the Elms College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rhode Island and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law.
Padraic Rafferty currently serves as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate at the Worcester District Court, where he presides over small claims matters and criminal show cause hearings, and reviews law enforcement applications for arrest and search warrants. Previously, Attorney Rafferty was a litigation attorney at Eden Rafferty, Attorneys at Law, where he tried more than 40 criminal and civil cases while representing local unions and assisting community organizations. Prior to entering private practice, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Worcester District Attorney’s Office, prosecuting hundreds of criminal cases. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Wentworth Institute of Technology and both a Master of Laws and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. Attorney Rafferty currently resides in Oxford, Massachusetts with his wife and children
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