BOSTON — Attorney Allison S. Cartwright was sworn in on New Years Day as Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts by SJC Chief Justice Kimberly Budd, at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the John Adams Courthouse in Boston.
Cartwright was elected in November 2024 by the voters of Suffolk County to become the SJC Clerk for the County of Suffolk, and fills the position being vacated by Maura Sweeney Doyle.
Doyle was appointed to the position in 1996, and was subsequently elected in 1998, serving for 28 years before retiring on Dec. 21. Cartwright is the second woman and first black person to hold this position since its inception in 1693.
“For nearly three decades, we have been fortunate to have Maura Doyle serving in this position, and she has done so with professionalism, passion, and dedication,” said Budd. “Today, we are equally fortunate to have Allison Cartwright stepping into this role. As an experienced lawyer and manager, she is well prepared to lead the county clerk’s office, and my colleagues and I look forward to working with her.”
The SJC Clerk for the County of Suffolk is responsible for the management of the court’s single justice caseload, which is comprised of petitions seeking review of lower court rulings under the SJC’s general superintendency power and various rules of court.
“I am excited and honored to have the privilege of serving as the next Clerk of the SJC for the County of Suffolk. My team and I recognize the important role the Clerk’s Office has to ensure that our state’s highest court maintains its independence and delivers justice in a manner that is fair, equitable, and accessible to the people of Massachusetts,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright began her career at the Committee for Public Counsel Services, as a trial attorney, working in the Roxbury office for four years.
She then worked for the City of Boston as Assistant Corporation Counsel, before opening Cartwright & Coleman, a civil and criminal litigation law firm, from 1997 to 2001. In 2001, she opened Cartwright Law Office.
In 2019, she returned to CPCS as Attorney-In-Charge and then Managing Director of the Central Region, where she managed offices in in Suffolk and Norfolk Counties.
Cartwright is a graduate of University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Boston College Law School.
Family Resources gets new director
SALEM, N.H. — Melissa LaRocque was sworn in as the new Executive Director of Salem Family Resources on Jan. 2.
Prior to her appointment, she was the Director of Operations and Quality Improvement Specialist and Program Director at the Dover Children’s Home.
LaRocque has also worked for the state’s child welfare system and has more than 10 years of experience as a program director in residential group homes.
She replaces former Executive Director David Voegele, who resigned his position at Salem Family Resources but will continue to work remotely for LaRocque as a contracted grant writer and consultant.
During two-and-a-half years with the organization, Voegele hired a new fiscal director, prepared strategic plans via law revisions, obtained paid benefits for staff, acquired a new building at 155 Main St., developed family support and play space programs, expanded the number of families served by 200%, launched Birdie Blast and launched the Youth Mental Health First Aid Program.
New art studio opens in Salem
SALEM, N.H. — Hammar’s Studio recently celebrated its grand opening on the first floor of The Mall at Rockingham Park with a ribbon cutting.
The studio offers a welcoming, multi-generational approach to arts education, providing programs, workshops, exhibits and events suitable for every skill level by inspiring creativity.
Visit hammarsstudios.com for more information.
Network with the next generation
HAVERHILL — The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its “Next Generation Leaders” networking night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at BOSA Skies, 160 Merrimack St.
Connect with young people in business at this event.
There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar.
To register, visit merrimackvalleychamber.com or call 978-686-0900.
Cost is $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers.
MVCC networking breakfast at Spark
LAWRENCE — The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a networking breakfast on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 8 a.m. at Spark Fitness at the Riverwalk.
Spark Fitness is located at 280 Merrimack St. in the rear of the building.
The networking event is for making connections and building valuable business relationships.
Register by calling 978-686-0900 or online at MerrimackValleyChamber.com.
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