IPSWICH DISTRICT COURT TO MOVE TO NEWBURYPORT
DISTRICT COURTHOUSE ON JULY 1, 2004

Boston, MA - Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan today announced that the Ipswich District Court will permanently relocate its sittings and operations to the Newburyport District Courthouse, effective July 1, 2004. Chief Justice Mulligan indicated that sufficient funds are not available for the Commonwealth's Trial Court to meet the increased rental payments requested for the courthouse in Ipswich, which is owned by the Town of Ipswich.

          Commencing on July 1, all employees who previously worked at the Ipswich District Courthouse on South Main Street in Ipswich will be located at the Newburyport courthouse at the rotary intersection of Route 1 and State Street. Both the Clerk-Magistrate's Office and the Probation Department of the Ipswich District Court will continue to preserve their own identity within the courthouse they will be sharing with the staff of the Newburyport District Court. The Ipswich District Court will continue to maintain the same office hours, and will continue to schedule and conduct its judicial sittings on the same days as at present. Criminal and civil jury trials arising from Ipswich District Court cases, which were previously conducted at the Peabody District Court, will be moved to the trial session at the Newburyport District Court.

          After the move, the Ipswich District Court will continue under the same distinguished leadership. Honorable Allen G. Swan will next month complete five years as Presiding Justice of the Ipswich District Court. District Court Chief Justice Samuel E. Zoll has announced his intention to reappoint Judge Swan to that position for another five-year term. Judge Swan is already familiar with the Newburyport courthouse, since he has often sat there in its trial session on days when he was not presiding in Ipswich, and has also served in the past as the Acting Presiding Justice of the Newburyport District Court.

          Clerk-Magistrate Kathryn M. Early will also continue as the Clerk-Magistrate of the Ipswich District Court, a position she has held since 1981. Since October 2003, Clerk-Magistrate Early has simultaneously been serving as the Clerk-Magistrate pro tempore of the Newburyport District Court.

          Ipswich District Court Chief Probation Officer Michael A. Bulgaris will also be continuing in that position in the Newburyport location.