Press Release   Governor Healey Nominates Three Attorneys to District Court 

Boston — Governor Maura Healey today nominated Tonomey Coleman, Mark Fabiano and Becky Michaels to serve as Associate Justices of the District Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.

“All three of these nominees have decades of experience and will work hard to uphold the law across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I am excited to see Tonomey, Mark and Becky bring fresh perspectives to the bench and help our residents navigate the court system.”

“I am excited to work with the Governor’s Council to advance all these nominees, who will excel on the District Court,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.  

The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state.

Governor Healey has already nominated 25 attorneys to the District Court:   Heath Antonio,   Patrick Burke, Lisa Core, Frederick DeCubellis, Brian Doxtader, Leo Fama, Stuart Hurowitz, Edward Kacasinas, Francis V. Kenneally, Sarah Kennedy, Edward Jr. Krippendorf, Cara Krysil, Courtney C. Linnehan, Lauren Greene, Hilary McCamic, Suzanne McDonough, Jerry Parisella, Polly Phillips, William Powers, Joanna Rodriguez, Gegory Teran, Marjorie P. Tynes, Amanda Ward, Liza Williamson  Hector Zumbado. 

For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.

About the Nominees:

Tonomey Coleman is currently the Acting Chair of the Massachusetts Parole Board where he has served as a member on since 2013. He is responsible for conducting parole hearings and helping decide whether to grant, rescind, or revoke parole, set conditions of parole, and make recommendations to the Governor in regard to pardons and commutations. Prior to his appointment to the Parole Board, Attorney Coleman spent nearly 20 years in private practice where he handled a broad range of civil and criminal matters in both the state and federal courts. Additionally, Attorney Coleman has served on the Governor’s Task Force on Hate Crimes since 2019 and was the President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association from 2001-2002. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College and a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School.   

Mark Fabiano has served as an Assistant Clerk-Magistrate at the Wrentham District Court for six years, where he is responsible for evaluating criminal complaints for probable cause, reviewing search and arrest warrants, and presiding over small claims cases. Prior to that, Attorney Fabiano was a founder and Managing Partner of the Fabiano Law Firm and led the criminal defense and business litigation practices. He has represented clients in a broad range of civil and criminal matters in the District and Superior Courts and has served as court-appointed counsel in criminal cases through the Norfolk Bar Advocate Program. Prior to entering private practice, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted criminal cases in the District and Superior Courts and served as the Supervising Assistant District Attorney in the Wrentham District Court and Dedham District Court. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Redlands and a Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School.   

Becky Michaels since 2012 has served as an Assistant District Attorney and, since 2019, as the Director of Community Prosecution Projects at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. She helped create and chairs the office’s Conviction Integrity Committee, Equity in Prosecution Committee and the Brady Committee, and has also helped develop and manage the office’s Drug Diversion and Treatment Program, Restorative Justice Diversion Program, and Adult Diversion Program. Previously, Attorney Michaels served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Government Bureau of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office where she represented government agencies in legal challenges. She began her legal career serving as a judicial clerk on the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law.   

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