Polito says Land Court vacancy should be filled
Criticized for ending a meeting last week before a vote could be taken on a judicial nominee, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito returned governor's councilors' ire with words of admiration on Monday.
"I have enormous respect for the Governor's Council. They're all elected members. They have a job to do," Polito told reporters on Monday after speaking at an iPods for Wounded Veterans event. "It's a check and a balance on a system to make sure that we properly vet all candidates for the judiciary, and they are part of that process, and I fully respect that."
Last week, Polito abruptly adjourned a council meeting before taking up what was likely to be a close vote on Jennifer Roberts, the Baker administration's nominee for a seat on the Land Court. Some councilors objected to the move, which effectively delayed a vote on the nominee.
The eight-member elected council interviews and votes on judicial nominations, and several members critiqued what they said was Roberts' relative lack of trial experience and her decision to continue appearing in court after her nomination for a judgeship.
"Our administration felt that she was a good candidate," Polito said. She said, "Relative to Land Court, there's a backlog of cases and it's an opening that needs to be filled, whether it's by this candidate or someone else, there is a process that needs to be considered and the Governor's Council is very much part of that process."
Roberts has the support of Land Court judges, according to Councilor Joseph Ferreira, who supports the Cape Cod attorney's nomination for the seven-judge court that handles complicated property disputes.
The council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday at noon.
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