In 2021, Massachusetts took children from their families at a rate 70 percent above the national average, when rates of child poverty are factored in.
Courts
Wolohojian confirmed on 6-1 vote
An Appeals Court jurist of 16 years and former partner at the firm now known as WilmerHale, Wolohojian’s nomination has drawn public scrutiny because of her past personal relationship with the governor. Healey and the judge shared a home in Charlestown for several years.
AG Campbell sues Milton over MBTA Communities law
Attorney General Andrea Campbell filed suit on Tuesday, asking the court to order that Milton has to comply with a sweeping state law requiring that communities within a certain distance of public transit rezone to allow for minimum amounts of multifamily construction as-of-right.
Healey’s former romantic partner poised to ascend to SJC
The Governor’s Council paid relatively little attention to Supreme Judicial Court nominee Gabrielle Wolohojian’s past romantic relationship with Gov. Maura Healey, focusing instead on artificial intelligence’s threat to the judiciary and a court case involving a dog named Peppermint.
Why logic supports the merger of JetBlue, Spirit
The problem with the judge’s logical analysis is that it denies JetBlue and Spirit all the tools to take on the big boys. Together, Delta, American, Southwest, and United carry over three quarters of all US airline traffic, a share which gives them advantages that are difficult to match when it comes to both sales and operations.
Courts preparing to give restorative justice a try
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM has a well-founded reputation for focusing on punishing offenders, but the Massachusetts court system is preparing to launch a three-year experiment this spring utilizing an approach called restorative justice. Restorative justice, broadly, works to rehabilitate those who commit crimes and address the harm they have done by working with victims and […]
When is a spouse not a spouse under Medicaid rules?
After five years of back and forth on the issue, including three formal hearings, MassHealth denied Tingos coverage, even after he passed away in 2020. The state agency said Tingos’s wife was not “genuinely uncooperative.”
Former alderman gets two years in federal bribery case that rocked Somerville and Medford
An attempt to bribe Medford’s police chief –- part of a scheme to obtain approvals for a marijuana company that would earn him a six-figure yearly payout – earned former Somerville attorney and alderman Sean O’Donovan a two-year federal prison sentence
Healey nominates former partner for state’s highest court
A New York native, Gabrielle Wolohojian was appointed to the Appeals Court by Gov. Deval Patrick, and has authored 900 decisions while sitting on 2,700 appeals since 2008.
No easy answers on child protection — but here’s a start
A move by state government to separate a child from their family is among the most difficult decisions government makes. We can create a system that protects children and supports families by following 5 key principles.