Justice Hillman earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history, summa cum laude, from Plymouth State College, and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School in 2007. Following a career spanning complex trial litigation, extensive appellate advocacy, and judicial administration, he was appointed to the Appeals Court by Governor Maura Healey and joined the court in July 2026.
Prior to his elevation to the Appeals Court, Justice Hillman served as an Associate Justice of the District Court beginning in November 2021. During his tenure, he served as First Justice of the Worcester District Court, presiding over a wide array of criminal and civil matters, from arraignments and pretrial proceedings to complex jury trials and mental health hearings. He was appointed Regional Administrative Justice for Region 5 in October 2024 and served as Co-Chair of the District Court Education Committee, directing educational programming for District Court justices across the Commonwealth.
Before joining the bench, Justice Hillman spent four years as General Counsel for the Administrative Office of the District Court from June 2017 to November 2021. As the principal legal advisor to the Chief Justice, Justices, and Clerks, he drafted jury instructions, standing orders, and court policies while advising the court on complex legislative and ethical concerns.
Justice Hillman began his public service career as a law clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court from September 2007 to August 2008. He then joined the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Appeals Unit from September 2008 to June 2017. He litigated a wide range of criminal cases before the Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court, including first-degree murder litigation. He also presented cases to grand juries, litigated Superior Court trials, and served on the Homicide Response Team.
A committed educator and leader within the Massachusetts legal community, Justice Hillman maintains an active profile in bar associations and academic publications. He has a long history with the Massachusetts Law Review dating to 2016, serving as Articles Editor, Comment Editor, Book Review Editor, and Editor. He is also a member of the Worcester County Bar Association and has served on the Massachusetts Bar Association's Appellate Bench-Bar Committee. Deeply dedicated to civic education, he has volunteered his time as a teacher and judge for the Discovering Justice program.
Justice Hillman's first panel sitting was on July 14, 2026.