Brian Palmucci approved as District Court judge, will resign from Quincy City Council
QUINCY – Longtime Quincy City Councilor Brian Palmucci will resign from the council this month after he was unanimously appointed by the Massachusetts Governor's Council to be a District Court judge.
"I'm very thankful to the governor and the governor's council, and I look forward to continuing my service to the community in my new role," Palmucci said Wednesday.
The seat he was appointed to is an open seat, not tied to any particular District Court. Palmucci has been going through the nomination process, background checks and due diligence for the last nine months.
“Attorney Palmucci’s years of experience representing the commonwealth in several legal roles make him well-suited for this appointment,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement last month.
Last week, Palmucci was interviewed by the Governor's Council and said his life experience as the son of a working-class family, lawyer and adoptive father would serve him well on the bench.
"I have a unique background, having been a prosecutor, a defense attorney, a victim and even a defendant at one time," Palmucci told the council. "My experience with domestic violence and abuse, and the child welfare system, have made me an empathetic person who can appreciate the experiences of those would would appear before me."
He said his work in Quincy, a culturally and economically diverse city, required "patience, understanding and compassion."
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"Through my experience in government, I have learned the importance of doing what's right, even when it's not popular," he said. "As I've strived to carry out my duties with sound judgment, I have never let the sting of criticism sway me. I am proud of the work that I've done."
Several people spoke on his behalf at the hearing, including City Councilor-at-Large Nina Liang.
"Someone once told me early on, 'Know the power of your voice.' Brian is the one who taught me what that actually meant," Liang said. "I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Brian, and I am just one person out of many who have been lucky enough to come across him. He embodies what public service means."
Palmucci will be sworn in as a judge before the end of the year.
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A special election will be held to fill his city council seat until the next regular city election in the fall of 2023. Palmucci has run unopposed since 2013.
Although nomination papers are not yet available, two people have already publicly expressed interest in running for the seat.
"I absolutely loved being a city councilor and I will do this job until the last second I am permitted to by law," Palmucci said Wednesday.
As Quincy's Ward 4 councilor for the last 12 years, he said he's most proud of his work fighting for affordable housing, working with those affected by the opioid crisis and "giving residents a voice" in local government.
Palmucci is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the New England School of Law. His law practice focuses on development and criminal law. He has most recently worked with Banner Park Campus LLC in its push to put a 240,000-square-foot life science building on the Weymouth/Braintree town line.
Palmucci and his wife, Alison, have two children and have been vocal advocates of adoption in the state. Their son Michael, now 6 years old, was adopted in 2018.
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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy City Councilor Brian Palmucci to become District Court judge
