One of the WBA’s goals is to ensure that qualified women have a meaningful opportunity to participate in public service through nominations and elections. The Governor’s Council plays a key role in the appointment of Judges in Massachusetts.

The Governor’s Council is a publicly elected body of eight individuals, plus the Lieutenant Governor who serves ex officio. The Council is charged with a Constitutional obligation to render advice and consent to the Governor on various matters, including the nomination of judges, clerks, and other officers of the court. Each Council member is elected from one of eight districts in the Commonwealth, and serves for a term of two years.  The following individuals currently serve as elected members of the Governor’s Council:

Carole A. Fiola (First  District)

Kelly A. Timilty (Second District)

Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney (Third District)

Christopher A. Iannella (Fourth District)

Mary-Ellen Manning (Fifth District)

Michael J. Callahan (Sixth District)

Thomas J. Foley (Seventh District)

Thomas T. Merrigan (Eighth District)

Your Governor’s Councillor should represent you. If your Councillor does not represent your views, or is not taking what you believe to be an appropriate view of what qualifications a judge should have, you should let him or her know. You might consider supporting a different candidate in the next election, or even running yourself. 

To learn which Governor’s Councillor represents you, click here.

To contact your Governor’s Councillor, click here

To see the cities and towns represented by each Governor’s Councillor, click here