Staff Report
Gov. Charlie Baker has nominated Kathryn Phelan-Brown, an attorney from Lynn, to serve as an associate justice on the Massachusetts Juvenile Court.
The lifelong Lynn resident is a 1990 graduate of Saint Michael’s College with a bachelor’s in English and she graduated in 1994 from the New England School of Law.
Her career has focused on juvenile and family law. In 1995, Phelan-Brown became certified as a Committee for Public Counsel Services, Children and Family Law trial counsel, Private Counsel Division, and has served as counsel for indigent clients on care and protection matters.
In addition to representing low-income clients, Phelan-Brown has served as a guardian and investigator in the Juvenile courts. In 2015, she was recognized by the North Shore Women’s Lawyers Association as the North Shore Lawyer of the Year, which recognized her legal work and her community contributions.
“Ms. Phelan-Brown has devoted her practice to the Juvenile Court, exhibiting the compassion and commitment needed to represent children and families in some of the most heart- wrenching cases in the commonwealth,” said Baker in a statement.
Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the statewide Judicial Nominating Commission and recommended to the governor. All judicial nominations must be approved by the Governor’s Council.
Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters including delinquencies, youthful offender cases, care and protections and children requiring assistance cases.