Massachusetts governor nominates ex-romantic partner for state supreme court – Winnipeg Free Press

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Maura Healy on Wednesday nominated an appeals court judge and a former romantic partner with whom she shared a home for several years to an open seat on the state's highest court.

Massachusetts Court of Appeals Judge Gabriel R. If Volohojian's nomination is approved, he will serve as an associate judge of the Supreme Court. Volohojian is the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts and the first openly LGBTQ member, Healy's second nomination to the state's highest court.

“There is no one more qualified or better prepared to enter the SJK than Justice Volohojian. I am honored by this nomination and honored to nominate such a worthy and qualified person. It's what the commonwealth deserves,” Healy told reporters.

“Obviously, I've had a personal relationship with Judge Volohojian for many years, so I know something about his character, his integrity and what kind of person he is,” added Healy, a Democrat.

Healy said Volohojian received a unanimous recommendation from the state's Supreme Court Nominating Commission, a five-member panel appointed by the governor.

Healy would not say if there were other people nominated for the vacancy.

“There is no qualified person. I'm very comfortable saying that,” Healy said. “I don't want his personal relationship with me to disqualify the best person for the position.”

Healy said he doesn't think Volohojian should recuse himself from administration-related cases, saying he currently handles matters related to state agencies and the executive office.

Amy Carnevale, chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, urged Healey to drop Volohojian's name.

“It is highly inappropriate for the governor to nominate a person with whom he had a long-term romantic relationship to the Massachusetts Supreme Court. This nomination clearly shows the lack of responsibility inherent in one-party government,” Carnevale said in a statement.

63-year-old Volohojian will fill the seat vacated by Judge David Lowy. Last year, Healy nominated then-State's Attorney Elizabeth Dewar for the high court.

Volohojian was appointed to the appeals court in February 2008 and has authored more than 900 decisions, according to Healy's office. He also served as the Chairman of the Advisory Commission on Rules of Appellate Procedure at the Supreme Court.

According to a Boston Magazine profile, Healy and Volohojian, who both met while working at the Boston law firm of Hale & Dorr, had been together for eight years when Healy began his first term as attorney general in 2015.

Volohojian and Healy lived together in a row in Boston's Charlestown neighborhood, which also served as headquarters for Healy. Volohojian did not play a public role in the campaign. The governor currently lives in Arlington with his current partner, Joanna Lydgate.

Healey's office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment from the governor, but said he would speak to reporters on Wednesday.

Volohojian must go before the eight-member Governor's Council, which is tasked with reviewing and approving judicial nominations.

The Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Massachusetts. Seven judges hear appeals in a range of criminal and civil cases.

Born in New York and the grandson of Armenian immigrants, Justice Volohojian received his bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in 1982; PhD in English Language and Literature from Oxford University in 1987; and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 1989, where he was editor of the Columbia Law Review.

Healy's office also described Volohojian as an accomplished violinist who regularly performs with orchestras, including the Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra.

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That incident was correct to show that the body approving the recommendation was the five-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission, not the state's 27-member Judicial Nominating Commission.