Governor Healey Nominates Kristen Bonavita to District Court

 Governor Healey Nominates Kristen Bonavita to District Court

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today nominated Kristen Bonavita to serve as an Associate Justice of the District Court. The nominee will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.

"Kristen brings extensive trial experience, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to justice to the District Court,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Her decades of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney will be an important asset to the bench, and I am confident she will serve the people of Massachusetts with fairness, integrity and compassion.”

“Kristen has dedicated her career to the practice of law and to serving her community,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Her breadth of courtroom experience and commitment to thoughtful and fair outcomes will serve her well on the District Court, and I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to advance her nomination.”

The District Court Department 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. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state.

Governor Healey has already nominated 35 attorneys to the District Court: Heath Antonio,  Patrick Burke, Tonomey Coleman, Lisa Core, Frances Dallmeyer, Frederick DeCubellis, Brian Doxtader, Mark Fabiano, Leo Fama,  Lauren Greene, Stuart Hurowitz, Paul Anthony, Edward Kacasinas, Francis V. Kenneally, Sarah Kennedy, Edward Jr. Krippendorf, Cara Krysil, Courtney C. Linnehan, Hilary McCamic, Suzanne McDonough, Shelly-Ann Sankar, Becky Michaels, Craig Mulcahey, Jerry Parisella, Polly Phillips, William Powers, Joanna Rodriguez, Thomas Johnson, Gegory Teran, Marjorie P. Tynes, Amanda Ward, Shelly-Ann Sankar, Raquel Webster, Liza Williamson,and Hector Zumbado.  

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

About the Nominees:

Kristen Bonavita is a highly experienced trial lawyer who has litigated hundreds of cases in the District and Superior Courts. For the past 15 years, she has operated a solo practice in Newburyport, representing clients in criminal defense, probate and family court matters, administrative hearings, and civil litigation. She has litigated more than 300 evidentiary motions and trials and has represented clients through pre-charge investigations, magistrate hearings, diversion programs, and trial. She has also devoted a substantial portion of her practice to representing indigent defendants through the Essex County Bar Advocates program. Prior to opening her practice, Attorney Bonavita served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanor and felony offenses in the Boston Municipal and Superior Courts. Prior to joining the DA’s office, she served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office where she was assigned to Dorchester as part of the Safe Neighborhood Initiative, a program that worked collaboratively with law enforcement and community organizations to reduce gang violence.  Attorney Bonavita holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Marketing from Boston College and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.