Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Nominates Ex-Partner to Fill Supreme Judicial Court Seat

Maura Healey, who was a Democratic gubernatorial candidate at the time, in Boston, Mass., on Nov. 7, 2022.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has nominated her former long-term partner to fill a vacant spot on the state’s highest court.

The Democratic governor announced the nomination of Massachusetts Appeals Court Associate Justice Gabrielle Wolohojian to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in a statement on Feb. 7.

Ms. Healey said there is “no one more qualified or better prepared” to serve in the role than Justice Wolohojian, adding that her former romantic partner of several years will “bring over three decades of broad trial and appellate experience, including sixteen years on the Appeals Court.”

The statement did not mention her previous relationship with Justice Wolohojian or the fact that they had lived together.

“Justice Wolohojian has served on the Appeals Court with distinction and her work is widely respected by members of the bench and bar,” said Ms. Healey.

“She has an exceptional understanding of the law and a strong commitment to the administration of justice. I thank the Supreme Judicial Nominating Commission for their work throughout this process and I am grateful to the Governor’s Council for their careful consideration of her nomination” she continued.

Justice Wolohojian is the second nomination to the state’s highest court by Ms. Healey, who is the first woman and first open member of the LGBT community to be elected governor of Massachusetts. She was nominated to the Appeals Court by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2007 and took to the bench in 2008. Since then, she has heard over 2,700 appeals and authored more than 900 decisions, according to Ms. Healey’s office.

Past Relationship

Justice Wolohojian serves as the chair of the Supreme Judicial Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure and as the chair of the Appeals Court’s committees on judicial mentoring and training, education, policies and practices, and en banc rehearings.

She is also a regular speaker on appellate practice.

Ms. Healey and Justice Wolohojian’s relationship became public knowledge in 2013, when Ms. Healey first announced she would run for attorney general, according to NBC News Boston. The couple reportedly first met at a Boston law firm and later lived together in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston.

It is not clear when they separated but the governor now lives with her current partner, Joanna Lydgate, in Arlington.

Ms. Healey’s nomination of her former partner was widely criticized by Republican lawmakers, including the Massachusetts Republican Party, who called for the governor to withdraw her nomination.

Maura Healey speaks during the state's Democratic Party convention in Worcester, on June 4, 2022. Michael Dwyer/AP Photo

Republicans Condemn ‘Inappropriate’ Nomination

“It is highly inappropriate for the Governor to nominate to Massachusetts’ highest court an individual with whom she had a long-term romantic relationship in the past,” MassGOP chairwoman Amy Carnevale said in a statement. “This nomination clearly demonstrates a lack of accountability inherent in one-party rule.”

However, the governor defended her decision while speaking to reporters on Feb. 7 after the nomination was announced, stating that her ex-partner is “so deserving and so qualified” for the position.

She also acknowledged her previous relationship with Justice Wolohojian.

“Of course, I had a personal relationship with Judge Wolohojian for many years, so I happened to also know something about her character and integrity and the kind of person she is,” Ms. Healey said, Fox News reports.

“Also, it’s, you know, you’ve seen that not just from me, somebody who had a personal relationship with her, but also so many people who have worked with her, who have known her, who have come forward,” she continued. “The support for her has been overwhelming from the legal community and beyond and I think that speaks to the incredible qualifications she brings to this position and what she will do.”

If confirmed, Justice Wolohojian would fill the vacancy left by Justice David Lowy, who resigned late last year.

Her nomination now goes before the eight-member Governor’s Council for review before an eventual confirmation vote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.