July 26, 2006

ROMNEY TABS PHILLIP RAPOZA AS CHIEF OF APPEALS COURT

Governor Mitt Romney today nominated Judge Phillip Rapoza to serve as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Judge Rapoza has served as an Associate Justice of the Appeals Court since 1998 and will succeed Chief Justice Christopher Armstrong. His elevation to Chief Justice must be approved by the Governor’s Council.

“Over a distinguished legal career, Judge Rapoza has made public service his top priority,” said Romney. “He enjoys a sterling reputation in legal circles, and it is my hope that he will continue his service as chief of the Appeals Court.”

Judge Rapoza has extensive judicial experience within Massachusetts and internationally. From March 2004 to June 2005 he served as the chief administrative judge of the Special Panels for Serious Crimes, a war crimes tribunal established by the United Nations to prosecute human rights violations committed in East Timor during that country’s struggle for independence. He was a central figure in implementing the UN Security Council’s mandate to bring the guilty to justice.

As chief judge of this panel, Rapoza supervised an international court staff that included judges from around the world. He took an unpaid leave of absence from the Appeals Court to serve on the panel. Governor Romney signed into law special legislation extending his leave of absence by six months, permitting him to complete his judicial service in East Timor.

“I am honored to be nominated as Chief Justice of the Appeals Court,” said Judge Rapoza. “I thank Governor Romney for his confidence in me and I welcome this new opportunity to be of service to the Court and the Commonwealth. If confirmed by the Council, I look forward to working with my fellow judges on the Appeals Court to uphold our court’s high standards and excellent reputation.” said Judge Rapoza.

Prior to his appointment to the Appeals Court in 1998, Judge Rapoza served for eight years as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court and the Fall River District Court. Before serving as a trial judge, Rapoza was a lawyer in private practice in New Bedford and Fall River. He began his legal career as a Suffolk County prosecutor and later served as an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Judge Rapoza, who is the grandson of Portuguese immigrants, is the founder of a legal exchange program between the United States and Portugal that has dealt with issues such as criminal law, domestic violence and child abuse. In 2002, President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal cited Judge Rapoza’s work in “promoting closer relations between

the judicial systems of our two countries” and awarded him the rank of Commander in the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal’s highest civilian honor.

Judge Rapoza received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Yale College and his law degree from Cornell University Law School. He is a lifelong resident of Dartmouth.

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