State Rep. Jerry Parisella Nominated As District Court Associate Judge

BEVERLY, MA — State Rep. Jerry Parisella (D-Beverly), who was recently re-elected to an eighth term at the State House, was nominated to serve as Associate Justice of the District Court on Tuesday.

Gov. Maura Healey made Parisella her 50th judicial nomination. His nomination will proceed to the Governor's Council for confirmation and create an open seat in the 6th Essex District.

"As a member of the Legislature for more than a decade and a U.S. Army veteran, Representative Parisella is a true public servant who knows what it means to deliver for the people of Massachusetts," Gov. Healey said. "We believe that he has the knowledge, the compassion and the
experience to excel on the District Court. We're excited for him to continue his service to the state, and we look forward to working with Governor's Council as they consider his nomination."

Fellow North Shore Democrat and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll credited Parisella with "working collaboratively to make life better for the people of Massachusetts."

"From his work as a State Representative on behalf of his constituents, to his 30 years in the Army, Jerry has dedicated his life to public service," House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) said. "Jerry's commitment to helping others, along with his breadth of experience and deep understanding of the issues, has made him an invaluable asset to the House.

"Those same attributes also make Jerry the right choice to serve as an Associate Justice of the District Court, a role that, when confirmed, he will be successful in."

The District Court Department hears criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health and other types of cases with jurisdiction over all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, as well as specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors and violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws.

The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state.

Because Parisella will have nearly two full years left in his term upon expected confirmation, a special election will be expected to be held to fill the vacant seat.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)