Governor Healey Recommends Appointment of Stephanie L. Everett, Esq. as Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court
The
Probate and Family Court Department handles court matters that involve families
and children, such as adoption, divorce, child support, and
wills. In the case of a vacancy, the Governor has the authority to
appoint the Register of Probate and Family Court with the advice and counsel of
the Governor’s Council to serve out the remainder of the term, which currently
goes through the end of the 2024.
“The
Register of Probate and Family Court has a critical role to play in
supporting families and children, particularly during the most challenging
moments of their lives,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Stephanie
Everett is uniquely qualified to step into this position as she has interacted
with the court as both a young mother and
an attorney, and she has built an incredible
career advocating for justice and equity for her community of Boston. I’m
proud to recommend her for Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court and
believe she has the experience, professionalism, d
“Stephanie
Everett has dedicated her career to serving the people of Boston, and the
Governor and I are excited for her to take her service to the next level,”
said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Her voice, perspective
and leadership will be invaluable in shaping the future of the Probate and
Family Court. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues on
the Governor’s Council to advance this appointment.”
"The
Probate and Family Court is largely unknown to many Massachusetts residents –
until they need it. That often comes at the most painful moments of their
lives, when a marriage dissolves or they have a child at a young age or they
experience the death of a loved one,” said Stephanie Everett. “As
someone who has experienced the
Court from both sides, as a young mother and as an
attorney, I’m intimately familiar with the impact it can have on people’s
lives, as well as the fear, frustration and confusion that families face
far too often when interacting with the Court. I’d
be honored to have the opportunity to serve as Suffolk Register of Probate
and Family Court and to use my experience to guide other families through
the system and leverage every resource at our disposal to better ensure
the future success of every person who interacts with the Court.”
In
2021, Everett was appointed the City of Boston’s first Executive
Director of the newly created Office of Police Accountability
and Transparency, which is responsible for investigating complaints of
police misconduct and ensuring that the Boston Police Department’s internal
affairs review process is fair and thorough. In this role, she oversaw a
budget of $1.4 million and a staff of 11 full-time employees. As
a member of Mayor Michelle Wu’s cabinet, she advised the mayor on
public safety matters. Everett also successfully advocated for
funding to create a yearlong internship program and youth advisory council
to bridge the gap of youth access to government
and strengthen relationships with law enforcement.
“Stephanie
Everett is a brilliant and effective attorney and public servant who has
devoted her career to serving others, particularly our most vulnerable
residents,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “In our years working
closely together, I’ve seen firsthand Stephanie’s deep commitment to
transparent and accessible government, and I know she will bring her values and
her many talents to this important role. I applaud Governor Healey and her team
for this nomination and urge Attorney Everett’s swift confirmation. We will
miss her in our administration, but are grateful that the families of Suffolk
County will be well served under her leadership.”
Prior to
her work with the city, Everett was a solo law practitioner for eight years.
She served as the lead counsel on jury and bench trials before Criminal and
Juvenile Sessions and as a member of the Norfolk County Bar Advocate Program,
accepting indigent clients facing criminal charges and families involved with the
Department of Children and Families. She also served as a legal expert for
various panel groups seeking to inform underserved and underrepresented
communities with information about their rights and changes in law.
Everett has also served as the Chief of Staff of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, and Manager of Public Safety for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. She is a graduate of Northeastern University and Suffolk University Law School and a member of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association.
