3/23/07- BC Law professor Michael Cassidy and adjunct faculty member Cathleen Cavell were named as two of the 18 new appointments to the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), announced today by Governor Deval Patrick.  Evelyn Swagerty (BC Law '84) was also named to the list.  The JNC will be responsible for screening applicants for appointment to the Appeals Court and to trial courts throughout the state.  In addition, Governor Patrick directed his new JNC to begin recruiting and screening applicants to fill the Supreme Judicial Court seat vacated by the recent passing of Justice Martha Sosman, and to recommend six to eight applicants for appointment to the SJC.  The JNC will accept applications for appointment to the SJC through April 24. 

"The work of the Supreme Judicial Court is essential to protecting the rights of our citizens and preserving our constitutional democracy," Governor Patrick said in a recent press release.  "We are committed to finding a nominee of the highest credentials to fill this important role."

The complete JNC with the new appointments announced today is as follows:

Chair: Lisa Goodheart, Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen PC; Boston
Vice Chair: John Griffin; Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Tyco Healthcare Group; Mansfield
Vice Chair: Elizabeth Morse; Tashjian, Simsarian & Wickstrom LLP; Worcester

- Ferdinand Alvaro; Fitzhugh, Parker & Alvaro, LLP; Boston
- Robert L. Burke; Callan & Burke, PC; Lowell
- Cathleen Cavell; Thomas A. Mullen, PC; Wakefield
- R. Michael Cassidy; Associate Professor, Boston College Law School; Newton
- Patricia McGovern; General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Corporate and Community Affairs, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Boston
- Brien T. O'Connor; Ropes & Gray; Boston
- Colin George Kim Owyang; Director and Counsel, National Grid-KeySpan Integration, National Grid; Westborough
- Lon Povich; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, BJ's Wholesale; Natick
- Pauline Quirion; Senior Attorney, Greater Boston Legal Services; Boston
- Katherine A. Robertson; Bulkey, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP; Springfield
- John Roncone, Jr.; Roncone Law Offices PC; Leominster
- E. Macey Russell; Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP; Boston
- Steven Sabra; Sabra & Aspden; Somerset
- Evelynne Swagerty; Assistant General Counsel, Bank of America Corporation; Boston
- Richard C. Van Nostrand; Mirick, O'Connell, LLP; Worcester
- Dorothy Varon; Assistant Vice President and Counsel, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company; Springfield
- Audrey K. Wang; University Attorney, Harvard University; Cambridge
- Robert N. Weiner; Robert N. Weiner, Esq.; Salem
 
"This is a diverse group of capable lawyers are from all corners of the Commonwealth and from a broad range of professional backgrounds and experience, all of whom share a commitment to ensuring the highest standards for our judiciary," Patrick said.