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星期三, 5月 03, 2017

Governor Baker Nominates McManus, Ovoian to District Court

Governor Baker Nominates McManus, Ovoian to District Court

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Attorneys Maureen H. McManus and Robert S. Ovoian to the District Court. McManus has been a Department of Industrial Accidents Administrative Judge since 2003 with 17 years of prior experience in insurance defense work and Ovoian is an experienced private practice litigator in both civil and criminal courts and has extensive experience with Board and Commission work.

“I am pleased to nominate Attorneys Maureen McManus and Robert Ovoian to the District Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Over the course of distinguished careers, their experiences qualify them as exceptional candidates for the district bench, and I believe they will be serve the citizens of the Commonwealth well if they are confirmed.” 

“Attorneys McManus and Ovoian bring unique backgrounds and are thoughtful lawyers with excellent courtroom skills,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “ Their decades of proven commitment to public service and private practice make them great additions to the District Court bench, if confirmed by the Governor’s Council.”

The District Court hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties; all misdemeanors; and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, District Court judges conduct both jury and jury-waived trials, and determine with finality any matter in which the likelihood of recovery does not exceed $25,000. The District Court also tries small claims involving up to $7,000 (initially tried to a magistrate, with a defense right of appeal either to a judge or to a jury). The District Court's civil jurisdiction also includes many specialized proceedings, including abuse prevention restraining orders and civil motor vehicle infractions (tried initially to a magistrate, with right of appeal to a judge).

For more information about the District Court, visithttp://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/dc/

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February, 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April, 2015.

About Maureen H. McManus

Maureen H. McManus currently serves as an Administrative Judge with the Department of Industrial Accidents where she is responsible for presiding over and rendering written decisions on workers compensation claims at the conference and hearing level. Before joining the Department, Ms. McManus practiced civil law with the firm of Linehan, Gallagher and Mahoney, serving as the Senior Defense Counsel for Travelers Insurance Company. Prior to that, she was defense counsel for Aetna Insurance Company with the law firm of Riley, Weafer, and Garretson. Before her civil experience, Ms. McManus served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and, before studying law, was an intensive care nurse at Brigham and Women’s and Boston Children’s Hospitals. Ms. McManus graduated from Curry College in 1980 with her BS in Nursing and received her JD from Suffolk University Law School in 1984. She resides with her family in Milton.

About Robert S. Ovoian

Robert S. Ovoian has been a sole practitioner in the general practice of law since 1981. During his more than three decades of practice, Mr. Ovoian has tried numerous civil and criminal cases in the District Court, Superior Court, Probate & Family Court, the Department of Industrial Accidents and the Federal District Court. He has represented clients in commercial deals, estate planning, municipal licensing, and real estate permitting and development.  Mr. Ovoian also served as City Solicitor for the City of Attleboro and as Chairman of the Attleboro Zoning Board.  For more than 30 years he has represented indigent defendants in the District Court, and since 2006 has been a member of the Human Rights Committee for the Wrentham Developmental Center.  Mr. Ovoian served as President of the Attleboro Area Bar Association, and currently serves as Moderator of the Central Congregational Church in North Attleborough. Mr. Ovoian graduated from Tufts University in 1977 with a B.A. in History, and received his J.D. from Loyola University Law School in 1981. He resides with his family in North Attleborough.

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