New Chief Named To Head Mass. District Court

BOSTON (AP) — Judge Paul Dawley has been appointed chief justice of the District Court in Massachusetts.

Dawley has served on the court since 2001, and as a regional administrative judge since 2004. His appointment was announced Friday by Judge Paula Carey, chief justice of the Trial Court.

The District Court is the largest court department in the state, made up of 62 divisions with 158 judicial positions.

As regional administrative judge for District Court Region 2, Dawley has overseen nine courts and 30 judges, and served as First Justice of Brockton District Court.

Dawley began working in the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office in 1990 and later became the deputy first assistant district attorney.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.