Press Release: 5/8/2026
Governor Healey Nominates New Judges and Clerk Magistrate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/07/2026
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Jacqueline Manning, Press Secretary
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Call Jacqueline Manning, Press Secretary at (617) 725-4025
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Email Jacqueline Manning, Press Secretary at jacqui.manning@mass.gov
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey nominated Alison Silber to serve as Associate Justice of the Probate and Family Court, Georgia Petropoulos to serve as an Associate Justice of the District Court and Gregory Bartlett to serve as the Clerk Magistrate for the Southern Berkshire District Court. The three nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.
“All three of these attorneys will bring deep legal expertise and sound judgement to the courts, and I am excited to nominate them,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I am confident that they will approach these new roles with integrity and a commitment to fairness for all our residents.”
“I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to confirm these three nominees so that they can serve the Courts with distinction,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
The Probate and Family Court Department is responsible for family-related and probate matters such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, adoption, wills, estates, and guardianships. Its mission is to provide fair, equitable, and timely access to justice while assisting and protecting individuals and families. For more information about the Probate and Family Court Department, please visit its homepage. Governor Healey has previously nominated 21 judges to the Probate and Family Court: Laurel Barraco, Manisha Bhatt, Jennifer Bingham, Bethany Brown, Colleen Carroll, Jessica Dubin, Mary Ferriter, Alexandra Flanders, Timothy Horan, Mikalen Howe, Lyonel Jean-Pierre Jr., Mark Lee, Caryn Mitchell-Munevar, Evelyn Patsos, Alessandra Petruccelli, Brian Salisbury, Carla Salvucci, Bernadette Stark, Toiya Taylor, Elena Tsizer, and Michelle Yee.
The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state. Governor Healey has already nominated 32 attorneys to the District Court: Heath Antonio, Patrick Burke, Tonomey Coleman, Lisa Core, Frances Dallmeyer, Frederick DeCubellis, Brian Doxtader, Mark Fabiano, Leo Fama, Lauren Greene, Stuart Hurowitz, Paul Anthony, Edward Kacasinas, Francis V. Kenneally, Sarah Kennedy, Edward Jr. Krippendorf, Cara Krysil, Courtney C. Linnehan, Hilary McCamic, Suzanne McDonough, Becky Michaels, Craig Mulcahey, Jerry Parisella, Polly Phillips, William Powers, Joanna Rodriguez, Gegory Teran, Marjorie P. Tynes, Amanda Ward, Shelly-Ann Sankar, Liza Williamson,and Hector Zumbado.
Governor Healey has previously nominated Ann Dawley, Bill Larkin, Robert E. Manning, Jr., Robert Palumbo, John P. Riordan, Dana Rutherford, Padraic Rafferty, Scott Rathbun, John Stocks and Lori Leavitt Wheeler to serve as Clerk Magistrates.
About the Nominees:
Alison Silber is a domestic relations litigator, conciliator, and mediator. After clerking for the domestic relations calendar at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Attorney Silber opened her private family law practice in 2011 and in 2014 moved it to Western Massachusetts, where she has focused on all aspects of domestic relations law including divorce, post-divorce modification, contempt, adoption, assisted reproductive technology, child custody, and child support matters. She regularly represents children as Guardian/Next Friend and through the Children’s Law Project and is one of the founding mediators of the Family Resolutions Specialty Court. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.
Georgia Petropoulos is a highly experienced trial lawyer who has tried hundreds of cases to conclusion across the Juvenile, District, and Superior Courts. For the past 23 years, she has run a solo practice focused on criminal defense and related civil matters. She has defended clients through the Pilgrim Bar Advocate Program, tried jury and bench trials, and represented clients at bail detention hearings and probation surrenders. Prior to opening her practice, Attorney Petropoulos served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanors and felonies in the District and Superior Courts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Massachusetts Law School.
Gregory Bartlett has served as the First Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Northern Berkshire District court since 2012. In this capacity, he is responsible for assisting in the management of the Court’s daily operations, presiding over small claims matters and show cause hearings, conducting administrative and motor vehicle appeals, and reviewing search warrants and arrest reports. Prior to joining the Clerk’s Office, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted a wide range of cases in the Berkshire District Courts. Before entering public service, he was an Associate at Hochberg Law Offices where his practice focused on domestic relations law, personal injury cases, and estate planning. Born and raised in Berkshire County, Bartlett spent ten years between college and law school working in residential homes for adolescents and serving as a Child Protective Social Worker for the Department of Children and Families. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law. Bartlett resides in Pittsfield with his wife, Christine, and their cats Morty and Fred.