Gun group rips gov’s judicial pick
Plans protest over 2nd Amendment concerns
The Gun Owners’ Action League plans to protest the judicial appointment hearing of First Assistant Attorney General Christopher K. Barry-Smith at the Governor’s Council Wednesday over Attorney General Maura Healey’s controversial order banning so-called “copycat” assault weapons in July.
Nominated to the Massachusetts Superior Court by Gov. Charlie Baker, Barry-Smith, 50, of Arlington has worked in the AG’s office for two decades.
“Christopher Barry-Smith has a long history of working for MA attorney generals who have successfully restricted our civil rights. Should he be nominated, we cannot expect any sort of fair trial for any Second Amendment issue that comes before him. Justice will not be blind, or balanced if he is a judge, for that reason, his nomination must be declined,” GOAL said in a call to action on social media.
While stressing the protest is not an attack on Barry-Smith as an individual, James Wallace, the group’s executive director, told the Herald yesterday, “Basically what we’re trying to do is bring attention to the fact that Charlie Baker has nominated somebody that should be carefully vetted.”
Wallace said of Healey, Thomas Reilly and Scott Harshbarger, “All three of them have abused their authority to attack our civil rights. It’s amazing that Charlie would even consider somebody from that background.”
Harshbarger, he said, “made a mess of the lawful commerce of firearms for two decades.”
District 7 Councilor Jennie L. Caissie of Oxford is a supporter of gun rights and usually quizzes nominees on the Second Amendment. She could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Baker spokesman Billy Pitman responded, “While the administration does not conduct litmus tests for judicial nominees, the governor has been pleased to nominate many highly experienced candidates to the bench, each of whom brings a diverse legal background and their own unique qualifications to serve all constituents before the courts and judicial system.”
Barry-Smith, who is up for a seat on the Superior Court bench, did not respond to a request for comment. He is a graduate of Harvard University, where he was captain of the swim team, and William and Mary Law School.