MA Appeals Court and Land Court Justices Nominated

Gov. Patrick nominates Boston Attorney Mary T. Sullivan for Appeals bench, Natick Attorney Robert B. Foster to Land Court

BOSTON, MA - On September 27, 2011, Governor Deval Patrick announced the nominations of Mary T. Sullivan as associate justice of the Appeals Court and Robert B. Foster as associate justice of the Land Court.

“These nominees are experienced attorneys, with the perfect combination of intellect, energy, temperament and commitment to public service,” said Governor Patrick. “It is an honor to nominate them to the Appeals Court and the Land Court, and I thank them for their willingness to serve.”

Sullivan is a partner at the Boston firm of Segal Roitman, LLP with extensive litigation experience. She represents labor organizations, labor-management, health, welfare and pension funds, and individual employees in labor, employment and benefits matters. Sullivan joined the firm in 1983, after serving as a law clerk for a U.S. District Court judge in New Hampshire. Sullivan serves as co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section. Her public service also includes membership on the Commonwealth’s Apprenticeship Training Council, the Public Library of Brookline Board of Trustees and the Artbarn Community Theater Board of Trustees.

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly recently recognized Sullivan as one of the 2011 Top Women in the Law. Sullivan is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (B.A. summa cum laude, 1975) and Northeastern University School of Law (J.D., 1981). She resides in Brookline. If confirmed, Sullivan will fill the vacancy on the Appeals Court created by the appointment of The Honorable Fernande R. V. Duffly to the Supreme Judicial Court.

Foster is a litigation attorney at the Boston firm of Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, representing commercial landlords and tenants, developers, land owners and title insurance companies in a wide variety of real estate matters. Prior to joining the Rackemann firm in 1993, Foster worked as a judicial clerk to The Honorable Herbert P. Wilkins, then an associate justice on the Supreme Judicial Court.

Foster’s public service demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to access to justice. He has served as a board member and chair of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation and as a member of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. Foster also served as co-chair of the Pro Bono Committee of the Boston Bar Association’s Real Estate Section. He is a current member and former chair of the Natick Planning Board and the former chair of the Land Use Committee of the State and Local Government Law Section of the American Bar Association.

Foster is a graduate of Haverford College (B.A., 1979) and Harvard Law School (J.D. magna cum laude, 1992). He resides in Natick. Foster is slated to fill the vacancy on the Land Court created by the retirement of The Honorable Charles W. Trombly, Jr.