Gov. Baker Nominates Assumption Alum Lemire to MA Appeals Court

Thursday, July 28, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Charlie Baker

Governor Charlie Baker has nominated Honorable Superior Court Justice James Lemire, as well as three others to the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Honorable James Lemire

Lemire graduated from Assumption College in Worcester with a BA in Political Science in 1975 and from New England Law in 1978. His 40-year law career started in the Worcester County District Attorney's office where he stayed until 1989, serving as Chief of the Sexual Assault Unit, and then Chief of the Drug Unit.

For the next 12 years Lemire worked criminal and civil litigation while working at a private law practice in Holden, MA. He came back to the District Attorney's office in 2001 and became Chief of the Financial Crime Unit until 2006 when he joined the mentoring and education programs for new judges.

Lemire also served as the Regional Administrative Judge for the Worcester Region from 2011 to 2014. From 1981-2014, Lemire served as an adjunct professor of continuing education at Assumption College for classes and lectures related to business law, criminal law, litigation, real estate law, paralegal programs, and criminal justice programs.

3 Others Named to Massachusetts Appeals Court

Baker also named Superior Court Justices Kenneth Desmond, State Solicitor Peter Sacks and Assistant Attorney General Sookyoung Shin to the Appeals Court.

“I am proud to nominate such an accomplished and diverse group to the Appeals Court. The combined trial, appellate and administrative law experience of this group will be a tremendous addition to the court and our judicial system. I thank the Judicial Nominating Commission for their hard work in presenting these outstanding candidates and look forward to the Governor’s Council’s thoughtful consideration of their nominations," said Governor Charlie Baker.

The Appeals Court is the intermediate appellate court to which most appeals from the Massachusetts Trial Courts and a number of administrative bodies are made. The court has 1 chief and 24 associate justices.

“I am confident that if confirmed, these nominees will maintain the high level of legal talent at the Appeals Court. With two Superior Court Justices and two seasoned appellate lawyers, this slate brings a wide range of experience that will allow the Court to issue thoughtful, well-reasoned decisions in an efficient manner across the broad range of legal issues that are heard by the Appeals Court,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.

The Others Nominated

Honorable Kenneth Desmond

A graduate of Tufts University and Boston College Law School, Judge Kenneth V. Desmond Jr. began his career as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, where he served from 1990-1997. From 1997-2005, he served as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for the Sheriff of Middlesex County. In 2005 he was appointed Associate Justice to the Boston Municipal Court, and was presiding justice of the Dorchester Drug Court from 2007-2012. In 2012, Desmond joined the Massachusetts Superior Court. He served as a member of the Supreme Judicial Court’s Committee to Study the Code of Judicial Conduct, and is presently a member of Trial Courts Judicial Performance Committee, Chair of the Trial Courts Departmental Race and Implicit Bias Advisory Committee and Vice-Chair of the Supreme Judicial Court Advisory Board on Probation. Desmond previously served on the Board of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and is a Vice- President of the Massachusetts Black Judges Conference.

Peter Sacks

State Solicitor Peter Sacks graduated with a BA Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College and later magna cum laude from Harvard Law School where he served on the Harvard Law Review. Following his graduation, Sacks clerked first for Judge Edward Gignoux, U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, and then for Judge Frank Coffin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Since 1988, Sacks has worked as an Assistant Attorney General, where he served as the Elections Counsel, as the Opinions Coordinator, and as the Deputy Chief of the Government Bureau. In 2013, Attorney Sacks was appointed to be the first State Solicitor in Massachusetts, serving as the principal advisor to the Attorney General on appellate strategy for cases affecting the Commonwealth. He has served as an active member of the Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure for the past 18 years.

Sookyoung Shin

A graduate of Brown University and Harvard Law School, Assistant Attorney General Sookyoung Shin began her law career in 1999, serving as a patent litigator for Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner in Washington, D.C. Shortly thereafter, she began working as a staff law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. From 2002 to 2003, Shin served as law clerk for the Honorable Joel M. Flaum of the 7th Circuit Court, before returning to Washington D.C. to work as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis L.L.P., specializing in appeals and dispositive motions. In 2005, she began working for the Office of the Attorney General in Boston, where she is currently an Assistant Attorney General in the Administrative Law Division. Ms. Shin has also lectured at Boston University School of Law, and in 2011 was a Supreme Court Fellow for the National Association of Attorneys General.

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Senator Michael Moore

Senator Moore, D-Millbury, serves as the Massachusetts Senate Vice-Chair on the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

In November, Moore was named the Vice-Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Public Safety.

“I am honored to be appointed the Vice-Chair of the NCSL’s Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Public Safety,” said Moore “This appointment will provide me the opportunity to continue to advocate and promote important public safety issues to ensure the safety of residents in the Commonwealth.”

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Matt Beaton- Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Like Polito, Beaton is from Shrewsbury and served as State Rep. for Worcester’s 11th District before being named Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs by Governor Baker.

Baker said that Beaton had the right experience to carry out green energy initiatives and that his leadership will be an important asset to accomplish goals throughout the Commonwealth.

Beaton has experience serving on the Ways and Means, and the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture committees. Beaton will take charge of the administration's task of creating energy efficiency, conservation and improved outdoor recreation.

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Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus

City Manager Augustus has solid relationships at the top of both political parties in the state. He is an avid supporter of Congressman Jim McGovern and he has recently celebrated that Karyn Polito, from Shrewsbury, will be the Lt. Governor.

"Central Massachusetts is proud to once again have one of our own in the Lieutenant Governor’s office. I look forward to working with the new administration to continue the work of bringing economic development to the Heart of the Commonwealth, improving the standard of living, and ensuring government works for all residents, regardless of class or status," said Augustus.

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Sheriff Lew Evangelidis

Following eight years as State Legislature, in 2010 Lew Evangelidis was elected as Worcester County Sheriff.

With his political background, Evangelidis has gained both visibility and a reputation for getting things done in Worcester County. On Friday night, Evangelidis gave a speech at the Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito's Inauguration Celebraton.

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Mike O'Brien

O'Brien spent nine years as Worcester's City Manager before stepping down in late 2013.

"Mike is certainly a valuable asset to any Governor. His public service is his great strength," said Connie Lukes, former Mayor of Worcester and current Worcester City Councilor. "Central Mass. is going to have a voice in the Governor's office, and is really becoming a political machine."

O'Brien serves as Baker's Co-Chair of the State of the State Committee and was a central figure during the Baker and Lt. Governor Polito's Central Mass Inauguration Celebration last Friday.

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Senator Ryan Fattman

In November, State Representative Ryan Fattman of Webster defeated incumbent Richard Moore (D) for the South Central Massachusetts Senate Seat. The victory was a huge upset for Fattman who continues to make a remarkable climb up the Massachusetts political ladder.

By winning the State Senate election, Fattman has established a Republican foundation in Central Massachusetts and has helped the Republican party gain control of the State House.

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Tim Murray

"Tim Murray, Gov. Baker, and Karen Polito share many concerns and ideas about the importance of economic development and job opportunities; sound budgets and sensible policies can create a certain momentum and confidence in investors and business leaders that Massachusetts is in capable hands; Tim Murray's current constituencies are the Central Mass. Chambers of Commerce. Those constituencies were and are for the most part eager Baker/Polito supporters. I anticipate that they'll make some beautiful music together, as they share the same economic development/ jobs hymnal. Call Baker a 'Murray Republican' or call Murray a 'Baker Democrat'," said Tom Finneran, former Speaker of the House and GoLocal MINDSETTER™.

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Senator Harriet Chandler

Beginning her eigth term, Senator Harriet Chandler is likely to play important Committee and caucus roles under the new Senate President.

She also serves as the Co-Chair of the Prevention for Health Caucus, Co-Chair of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Legislative Caucus, Co-Chair of the Central Massachusetts Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Oral Health Caucus.

"Through hard work and persistence, she has become a leader who ensures that the concerns of Central Massachusetts communities are heard at the State House, " said State Rep. Jim O'Day.

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Lt. Governor Karyn Polito

As reported by GoLocal last week, former Speaker of the House Tom Finneran said this about Polito: "Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito have strong histories with the Legislature; watch for Central Mass. legislators, Democrats and Republicans, to work closely with the Administration...Lt. Governor Polito's first-hand knowledge and experience regarding transportation needs in Central Mass. mirrors Tim Murray's; look for the two of them working together in perfect harmony; Governor Baker will pay close attention and Central Mass. will be the beneficiary. There's no political ego here---just a determination to make Massachusetts as great a state as it can be."

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Congressman Jim McGovern

Following his successful, but long-time bid to initiate relations with Cuba once again, Congressman McGovern proved he has weight to pull both locally and nationally.

In an interview with GoLocal Worcester regarding McGovern, MINDSETTER™ Paul Giorgio said "If you want to get things done, you need a partner in Washington. You can’t get things done solely on the backs of Worcester tax payers. You need federal dollars. You need state dollars. $10 million to renovate City Square, most of that money isn’t coming from Worcester. It’s state money. Funding for JetBlue, that’s federal money, that’s FAA money."