COURTING CONTROVERSY
Gov’s council sees ‘disturbing’ trend of magistrates plugged in with Polito
Governor’s councilors are blasting the Baker administration for political patronage yet again in the latest appointment to lifetime, high-paying court jobs with connections to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.
“This is a pattern that we’re starting to see and it’s disturbing to me,” Councilor Eileen Duff told the Herald. “It’s starting to not be a good look.”
In a spate of controversial clerk magistrate appointments under the Baker administration, the latest is for the Ayer District Court, where attorney Damian Riddle, who donated $500 to Polito’s campaign a month before he applied, was appointed to the position over Acting Clerk Magistrate Jennifer Lennon, who couldn’t even get an interview despite having worked there for 14 years.
“I just could cry, because we’ve hurt so many good people,” Councilor Marilyn Devaney said. “This is not the government that I represent. This is about the public not being able to apply and feel like they will have an equal chance at a position. That’s the American way. That’s democracy.”
Riddle, who owns a Fitchburg law practice, has donated $850 to Polito over the past two years, $500 of which was given in June 2019, about a month before he submitted his application for the position, campaign finance records show. Duff questioned Riddle’s claim that he doesn’t have a relationship with Polito, saying the gratuitous amount is “very suspect.”
Lennon has experience as a former assistant district attorney, Devaney said, but was rejected for an interview by the Judicial Nominating Commission, composed of 21 people appointed by the governor to screen candidates. Neither Lennon nor Riddle responded to requests for comment.
Devaney said the politically connected candidate was “rushed through” the council, which was given only a week to vote, and that the $150,000a-year positions “should not be appointed based on who you know.” Devaney added that Riddle made a $250 donation to Clerk of Courts Dennis McManus at the Worcester Superior Court, where Riddle’s wife works an assistant clerk magistrate.
Devaney cited recent connected clerk magistrate appointments — $150,000-ayear posts — including former Shrewsbury Police Detective Lt. Joseph McCarthy Jr., who coached Polito’s son in youth football in their hometown, to the Westboro District Court; Sharon Shelfer Casey, Polito’s college friend and former executive director of the JNC, to the Cambridge District Court; and former Governor’s Councilor Jen Caissie to the Dudley District Court.
Gov. Charlie Baker and Polito declined to comment through a spokeswoman, who cited the “blind application process,” at the JNC. The spokeswoman also noted that Lennon was appointed by Chief Justice Paul Dawley of the District Court upon the prior clerk magistrate’s resignation.
“I never believe that somebody gets a position by giving somebody a political contribution,” Councilor Robert Jubinville countered. “In any event, Mr. Riddle is a fine, fine nomination, mind you. He’s experienced, he’s been in the court system a long time, he shouldn’t suffer.”