A group of legislators in Hampden County are pushing for Governor Maura T. Healey to increase the county’s representation on the Massachusetts Appeals Court. The county has been without a representative on the court since 2022 when Justice C. Jeffrey Kinder, a Wilbraham resident, retired. The absence of a Hampden County Associate Justice on the 25-member court has raised concerns among local lawmakers who believe it is important for the county to have a voice in the state’s judicial system.
The legislators are calling for Governor Healey to appoint a qualified candidate from Hampden County to fill the vacant position. They argue that having a representative on the Massachusetts Appeals Court will not only provide a valuable perspective from the region but also ensure that the interests of Hampden County residents are represented in the state’s legal system.
Justice Kinder’s retirement has left a void on the court, and legislators are eager to see the position filled with a qualified candidate who can effectively represent the county’s interests. They believe that appointing a Hampden County Associate Justice to the court will bring much-needed diversity and representation to the state’s judicial system.
Governor Healey has not yet announced any plans to fill the vacant position on the Massachusetts Appeals Court, but with mounting pressure from legislators in Hampden County, it is likely that the issue will be addressed in the near future. The push for increased representation on the court underscores the importance of having diverse voices and perspectives in the state’s legal system.
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