Earlier this month, Governor Healey nominated four individuals to fill vacancies in district court.

Massachusetts’ district courts are the lowest level trial courts in the Commonwealth. They have jurisdiction over all criminal misdemeanors, some felonies, and civil matters when the amount in controversy does not exceed $50,000.

The Governor’s website gives a short biography for each of the four nominees.

Leo Fama

Attorney Fama is a solo practitioner from Middletown, Massachusetts. He has 33 years of legal experience. According to his firm’s website,

Leo represents clients in cases involving civil litigation, criminal defense, real estate title closings, magistrate hearings and more. His practice spans throughout Massachusetts, including the areas of Middleton, Lynnfield, Essex County and Middlesex County.

He attended Suffolk University and New England School of Law. 

His professional associations include membership with the Orders Sons of Italy and the Justinian Law Society.

Francis Kenneally

Mr. Kenneally has served as a court clerk, first in Suffolk County and then in the Supreme Judicial Court.

His biography on mass.gov states that Attorney Kenneally

was principal and founder of the Kenneally Law Office, where his practice included representation of indigent criminal defendants in the Boston Municipal Court through Suffolk Lawyers for Justice, Inc., civil litigation in construction cases, appeals, corporate law, probate and estate matters, real estate transactions, and zoning and land use matters.

He graduated from Fairfield University and Catholic University Law School. He is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and Maryland.

Courtney Linnehan

Ms. Linnehan has extensive experience as an assistant district attorney. She worked for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office in the Boston Municipal Court, and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Appeals Unit.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School.

Marjorie Tynes

Unlike the other nominees, Ms. Tynes currently works in the government’s executive branch. She is the deputy executive director of the office of grants and research for the executive office of safety and security.

Her legal career involved 10 years of solo practice handling criminal and civil matters and 14 years as an assistant district attorney at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

She attended Brandeis University and Suffolk University Law School

Governor’s Council Hearings

All four nominees will go before the governor’s council this month for consideration. The hearings will be streamed live on the state’s website. Hearings for Mr. Fama and Ms. Tynes are scheduled for tomorrow February 14. Mr. Kenneally and Ms. Linnehan will go before the council on February 28.