Governor Healey Nominates Two Clerk Magistrates

 Governor Healey Nominates Two Clerk Magistrates  

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey today nominated William Larkin as Clerk Magistrate of the Franklin/Hampshire Juvenile Court and Scott Rathbun as Clerk Magistrate of the Eastern Hampshire District Court. The nominations will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation. 

“These two nominees have each done terrific work throughout their careers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I look forward to their continued contributions to the operations of our court system in these new roles.”  

"I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to confirm both of these 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 Ann Dawley, Lori Leavitt Wheeler, Robert Palumbo, John P. Riordan, Dana Rutherford, Padraic Rafferty and John Stocks to serve as Clerk Magistrates. 

About the Nominees: 

Bill Larkin currently serves as the Acting Clerk Magistrate of the Franklin/Hampshire Juvenile Court, a position he has held since June 2025, and previously served as the Court’s First Assistant Clerk Magistrate. He held the position of Acting Clerk Magistrate in the Berkshire Juvenile Court from December 2019 to June 2022. As Acting Clerk Magistrate, Attorney Larkin oversees the administration of the Clerk’s Office, reviews applications for search and arrest warrants, and conducts show cause hearings. He works closely with the Department of Children and Families, local police departments, schools, defense attorneys, prosecutors and judges on the wide range of matters that come before the Juvenile Court. Prior to joining the Clerk’s Office, Attorney Larkin was a Partner at Larkin & Samolewicz Attorneys at Law for 15 years where his practice focused on criminal defense and civil litigation in the District, Superior, and Probate and Family Courts. Prior to entering private practice, Attorney Larkin served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office from 1984 to 1991. From 1994-2004, Attorney Larkin also served as a Staff Counsel for the Hampshire County Bar Advocates where he provided legal assistance, administrative oversight and training to court-appointed attorneys. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Juris Doctor from Western New England School of Law. He lives in Holyoke with his wife Jilian Larkin.  

Scott Rathbun is an Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Eastern Hampshire District Court where he has served since 2018. From 2021-2022 he served as the Acting Clerk Magistrate. Attorney Rathbun oversees applications for search and arrest warrants, conducts show cause hearings, presides over small claims cases and manages sessions in the Court.  Prior to joining the Clerk’s Office, Attorney Rathbun served as the Founding Partner of the Rathbun Ciccarelli Attorneys at Law firm where he practiced criminal defense and civil litigation law. During that time, he was also appointed to serve as a Special Prosecutor for conflict matters for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.  Before founding his firm, he served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted a wide range of criminal matters in the District and Superior Courts. He holds a Bachelor of Art from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Juris Doctor from New England Law School.  Scott is a lifetime resident of the Pioneer valley. He lives in Pelham with his wife, three sons and their border collie. He is actively involved in coaching his boys in baseball and ice hockey.