By Tiffany Williams –
Governor Maura Healey tapped two veteran juvenile law experts Wednesday to fill vacancies on the Massachusetts Juvenile Court bench, sending Jamie Bennett and Benjamin Mann to the Governor’s Council for confirmation.
Bennett, the head of the Youth Advocacy Division in Worcester’s Committee for Public Counsel Services, has spent nearly two decades representing young people facing delinquency and youthful offender charges. She’s managed high-stakes cases, negotiated pleas, argued discovery motions, and handled evidentiary hearings and jury trials. Since 2014, she’s led a team of three attorneys and a social services advocate focused on court-involved youths.
Mann, now an Assistant Clerk Magistrate at Springfield Juvenile Court, brings experience from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Zwicker & Associates, and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. He’s worked on civil litigation, managed legal interventions for families, and even spent time teaching music at Holyoke Magnet Middle School for the Arts.
“The Juvenile Court plays an essential role in protecting the rights and wellbeing of our young people, their families, and our communities,” Healey said. “Both Jamie and Benjamin bring decades of experience practicing juvenile law, and that expertise will be invaluable to the Juvenile Court.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll backed the picks, saying the pair would be “great additions to the Court” thanks to their extensive track records in youth advocacy.
The Juvenile Court handles cases ranging from abuse and neglect to delinquency and youthful offenders. It has 42 judges spread across more than 40 courthouses statewide. Healey has previously nominated a slate of judges, including Jennifer Currie, Andrew Don, and Audrey Murillo.
Bennett and Mann now await review by the Governor’s Council, the next step before officially taking seats on the bench.