GREENFIELD — The director of community prosecution projects at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has been nominated by Gov. Maura Healey to serve as a District Court associate justice.
Becky Michaels has been an assistant district attorney since 2012 and has helped develop and manage the DA’s office’s Drug Diversion and Treatment Program, as well as the Restorative Justice Diversion and Adult Diversion programs. She also helped create and now chairs the office’s Conviction Integrity Committee, the Equity in Prosecution Committee and the Brady Committee, which oversees the office’s adherence to the Brady Rule that requires disclosure of potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense.
Michaels reportedly cannot speak to the media until the nomination process has ended. Healey has also nominated Tonomey Coleman, acting chair of the Massachusetts Parole Board, and Mark Fabiano, who serves as assistant clerk magistrate at Wrentham District Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.
“She’s been a key assistant district attorney,” Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said of Michaels, noting that he encouraged her to apply for a judgeship. “Not only is she an outstanding trial attorney, but she also has great skills at moving projects along.”
In a statement, Healey said all three nominees “have decades of experience and will work hard to uphold the law across Massachusetts.”
“I am excited to see Tonomey, Mark and Becky bring fresh perspectives to the bench and help our residents navigate the court system,” she said.
“I am excited to work with the Governor’s Council to advance all these nominees, who will excel on the District Court,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a statement.
According to the Governor’s Council page on the state website, there will be a local hearing on Michaels’ nomination at the courthouse at 15 Gothic St. in Northampton on Monday, Oct. 6, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a State House hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 1:30 p.m.
The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health and other types of cases, according to Gov. Healey’s office. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence of up to five years, and other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and bylaws.
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.
Juvenile Court
Additionally, Healey nominated Benjamin P. Mann, an assistant clerk magistrate at the Springfield Juvenile Court and a former assistant district attorney for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, to serve as associate justice of the Juvenile Court.
Mann previously served as counsel to the state Department of Children and Families, where he coordinated legal interventions and worked with social workers to address the needs of families and children involved in care and protection proceedings throughout Massachusetts, and as the managing attorney and a civil litigator at Zwicker & Associates.
