CAISSIE AT BAT BEFORE COUNCIL
Governor’s Councilor Jen Caissie was needled by a pair of fellow councilors about patronage hires Wednesday as she appeared before them as the nominee for the Dudley District Court’s clerk-magistrate post — the latest politically wired candidate put forward by the Baker-Polito administration.
“My issue is not with your qualifications, you are extremely qualified,” Councilor Robert Jubinville said to Caissie. “It’s the perception as an appointed official that the public has of the council. And, through no fault of your own, you follow a string of appointments that have been controversial.”
Jubinville predicted Caissie will be confirmed when the Council votes next week, which would make her the third clerk-magistrate candidate with close ties to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito to land a lifetime appointment to a job that pays more than $152,000 per year.
Councilor Marilyn Devaney questioned the timing around Caissie’s husband’s recent drunken driving case, which was moved from Dudley to Palmer District Court to “prevent a conflict of interest,” court records show, on April 22. Caissie’s husband was arrested and charged with a second drunken driving offense, negligent operation and speeding on April 20, and Caissie said she believed she sent her application April 18 or 19.
When questioned, Caissie said she had “no involvement whatsoever” in that transfer.
Devaney also questioned just how “blind” the clerkmagistrate application process is, since Caissie’s application indicates she currently sits on the Governor’s Council.
None of the councilors questioned Caissie’s qualifications, which include more than 20 years of legal experience, a Juris Doctorate degree and a membership with the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, but several raised concerns about the circumstances around her nomination during Wednesday’s hearing.
“In all of these roles, which span two decades, I have gleaned extensive management, executive and legal experience,” Caissie said to the councilors. “I believe as I sit here that I am very qualified to be the clerk magistrate in the Dudley District Court, and I am asking each and every one of you for your votes and your support.”
“There is absolutely nobody in this room that said you don’t have the qualifications. Everybody said you are qualified for this job, and that’s what our job is to decide, is whether you are qualified,” Councilor Terrence Kennedy said. “I’m voting for you, and I’m going to miss you.”
The Baker-Polito administration has come under fire for recent appointments including Shrewsbury Police Detective Lt. Joseph McCarthy Jr., who coached Polito’s son in youth football in their hometown, to the Westboro District Court clerk-magistrate job earlier this month, as well as Sharon Shelfer Casey, Polito’s college friend and former executive director of the Judicial Nominating Commission, who landed the top clerk’s post at Cambridge District Court in May.