|
CHIEF JUSTICE FOR
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
ROBERT A. MULLIGAN APPOINTS JUDGE STEVEN D. PIERCE
AS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HOUSING COURT
Chief
Justice for Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan
today announced the appointment of Judge Steven D. Pierce
as the new Chief Justice of the Housing Court Department
of the Trial Court for a five-year term, in accordance
with G.L. c211B, § 5. Judge Pierce succeeds Chief
Justice Manuel Kyriakakis, who will retire on January
1, 2006, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of
seventy for judges. Chief Justice Kyriakakis has served
with distinction as Chief Justice of the Housing Court
since June 17, 2002.
The
Housing Court consists of five divisions in Massachusetts:
Boston, Worcester, Northeast, Southeast, and Western.
Chief
Justice Mulligan said, "I am very pleased to announce the
selection of Judge Steven Pierce of Westfield to succeed
Chief Justice Manuel Kyriakakis as the next Chief Justice
of the Housing Court Department. Judge Pierce brings a
breadth of managerial experience which renders him uniquely
qualified to lead the Housing Court and to contribute significantly
to the management initiatives presently underway in the
Massachusetts Trial Court. He is very bright, highly respected,
and will bring a wealth of managerial experience which
will benefit not only the Housing Court Department but
the Trial Court as a whole. I look forward to having Judge
Pierce join my management team."
Chief
Justice Mulligan said that he was presented with an excellent
group of candidates for the position of Chief Justice.
He also praised Chief Justice Kyriakakis, stating that
he was a superb Chief Justice and that he would miss his
wise counsel and collegial presence.
Judge
Pierce has been a Housing Court judge since his appointment
to the bench in January, 2003. He brings to the position
of Chief Justice extensive leadership, legal and management
experience in the public and private sectors. He served
as Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Jane Swift from August,
2001 to October, 2002, and as a senior advisor to Governor
William Weld. For nearly seven years, he was the Executive
Director of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency where
he was recognized for strategic leadership and sound management
practices. He was also Cabinet Secretary of Communities
and Development in 1991.
Prior
to that, Judge Pierce was a State Representative for twelve
years and a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in
1990 and the U.S. Congress in 1991. He was a partner in
the Boston office of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin & Mellott
for two years and previously worked at Berndt, Antonellis & Larsen
in Westfield and at Murtha, Cullina, Richter & Pinney
in Hartford.
A
resident of Westfield and Boston, Judge Pierce graduated
with honors from Duke University School of Law and from
Union College, summa cum laude. He has been honored with
several notable awards as a legislator and as an executive
leader.
Judge
Pierce said, "I am honored to be appointed by Chief Justice
Mulligan and look forward to working with him on management
initiatives underway to improve the Trial Court and also
with my colleagues and staff on the important issues in
the Housing Court Department. Chief Justice Kyriakakis
has accomplished much in his relatively short tenure as
Chief Justice of the Housing Court and has been an inspirational
leader. I am grateful to have served with him, and I will
miss him."
|
