Mass. Governor Announces Juvenile Court Judicial Nominations

Patrick Names Four Massachusetts Attorneys for Judge or Clerk-Magistrate Positions

BOSTON, MA – On Friday, October 7, 2011, Governor Deval Patrick announced the nominations of four experienced attorneys to Juvenile Court judicial and clerk-magistrate positions: Anthony J. Marotta as associate justice of the Juvenile Court, Worcester County Division; Mary O’Sullivan Smith as associate justice of the Juvenile Court, Barnstable County and Town of Plymouth Division; George P. Roper as clerk-magistrate of the Juvenile Court, Plymouth County Division; and Robert L. Ryan, Jr. as clerk-magistrate of the Juvenile Court, Norfolk County Division.

"I am pleased to nominate four well qualified and fair minded attorneys to these important positions," said Governor Patrick. “I thank them for their willingness to serve and their demonstrated commitment to the fair administration of justice for juveniles and their families.”

Anthony J. Marotta is an Assistant District Attorney in the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, a position he has held since 2001. He currently serves as a Superior Court prosecutor assigned to the Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Unit. Prior to joining the District Attorney’s Office, Marotta maintained a diverse practice in Fitchburg for 12 years, representing clients in civil and criminal litigation in Juvenile Court and many of the other courts of Worcester County. He is a graduate of Fitchburg State College (B.S., 1981), Clark University (M.B.A., 1986) and New England School of Law (J.D., 1989). Marotta resides in Leominster. He is slated to fill the vacancy on the Juvenile Court, Worcester County Division, created by the retirement of the Honorable Luiz G. Perez.

Mary O’Sullivan Smith has worked for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office for over 23 years. She currently serves as director of Legal Training and director of the Community Based Juvenile Justice Program. She is responsible for coordinating and supervising the juvenile justice program in collaboration with representatives from law enforcement, Juvenile Court, Department of Children and Families, Department of Youth Services and local schools. Prior to assuming these positions, she worked as a trial prosecutor and also served as Chief of Appeals in the District Attorney’s Office. O’Sullivan Smith’s legal experience also includes four years as a sole practitioner concentrating in criminal appellate matters. She is a graduate of Boston College (B.A. magna cum laude, 1980) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D. cum laude, 1983) and a resident of Scituate. Upon confirmation, O’Sullivan Smith will fill the vacancy on the Juvenile Court, Barnstable County and Town of Plymouth Division, created by the retirement of the Honorable Louis D. Coffin.

George P. Roper has worked in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office for 15 years, as an assistant clerk-magistrate since 1996, and as the first assistant since 1998. His prior experience includes a general legal practice with litigation experience at a Charlestown law office. Roper is a graduate of Boston College (B.A., 1987) and New England School of Law (J.D., 1993). He is a resident of East Bridgewater. Roper is slated to fill the clerk-magistrate vacancy at the Plymouth County Juvenile Court created by the retirement of the Honorable Thomas R. Lebach.

Robert L. Ryan, Jr. is the acting clerk-magistrate at the Norfolk County Juvenile Court, a position he has held since July 2010. He has been the first assistant clerk-magistrate in that office since 1997. Ryan served as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County from 1991 to 1997. He is a graduate of Suffolk University (B.A. cum laude, 1986) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D., 1990). Ryan resides in Milton. Upon confirmation, he will fill the vacancy at the Norfolk County Juvenile Court created by the retirement of the Honorable James F. Poirier.