December 20, 2006

ROMNEY NOMINATES FOUR TO JUDICIARY

Governor Mitt Romney today nominated Robert C. Cosgrove to the Superior Court, Michael A. Uhlarik to the District Court (Circuit), Robert E. Powers as Clerk Magistrate of Barnstable District Court and Mark R. Jeffries as Clerk Magistrate of the Southeast Division of the Housing Court.

Including both judge and Clerk Magistrate positions, the Governor has now made 81 nominations over his four-year term, filling 469 of 473 positions, which means that the judicial branch is over 99 percent filled. There are two remaining vacancies on the Probate & Family Court (specifically, in the Essex and Hampden County Divisions) and two Clerk Magistrate vacancies on the District Court (specifically, in Springfield and Fitchburg).

Cosgrove, of Braintree, has worked in the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office for nearly 20 years and currently serves as chief of the appellate unit. Prior to his legal career, Cosgrove taught English at Braintree High School. He also taught legal research and writing at Suffolk Law School, where he earned his law degree. He is a graduate of Capital University and holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Uhlarik, of Newbury, was selected for a position on the District Court (Circuit). He has worked in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office since 1993 and currently serves as chief of the Elders & Persons with Disabilities Unit. Previously, he was an assistant district attorney in the Worcester County DA’s Office and worked for two Boston law firms. He is a graduate of Marquette University and Boston College School of Law.

Powers, of South Boston, served as an assistant district attorney for Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County District Attorneys from 1991 to 1998. Since then, he has been an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County DA’s Office in New Bedford. He is a graduate of Northeastern University and the New England School of Law.

Jeffries, of North Dartmouth, has been an Assistant Clerk Magistrate at the Southeast Housing Court in Fall River since 2000. Prior to this, he was employed in various positions at the Diocese of Fall River, including project manager for Diocesan Health Facilities. He holds degrees from Bristol Community College and Bryant College.