Why Margie Palladino Is the Choice for Governor’s Council

On September 1, voters in Massachusetts’ 3rd Governor’s Council District will have an important choice: who they trust to help shape the future of our courts by reviewing and confirming judicial nominees.

This election is about more than one judicial appointment. It is about accountability, transparency, and ensuring that the voices of survivors, children, families, and vulnerable individuals are meaningfully considered when judges are selected.

Margie Palladino is running for Governor’s Council because she believes judicial appointments require more than reviewing credentials. She believes the Governor’s Council must carefully examine a nominee’s experience, judgment, and understanding of the real-world impact court decisions have on people’s lives.

Margie, a retired trial attorney and co-founder of the Massachusetts Family Advocacy Coalition has spent years advocating for improvements in the Probate and Family Court system. Her work has focused on increasing transparency, accountability, and ensuring that families navigating the courts are not overlooked.

Margie entered this race following the Governor’s Council’s confirmation of Mary Ferriter to the Probate and Family Court. Ferriter’s former leadership of the High Conflict Parent Education Program at William James College became a significant concern for many domestic violence survivors and family court advocates, who raised concerns about the program’s impact on families with histories of abuse.

Before the confirmation vote, domestic violence survivors, advocates, and community members reached out to members of the Governor’s Council, including Mara Dolan, to share their concerns about the nomination and the experiences of those who had gone through the program.

Many survivors and advocates say they shared deeply personal experiences and urged council members to carefully consider the potential impact of the nomination. After the confirmation vote, some felt that their concerns and lived experiences were not given the weight they believed they deserved.

Mara Dolan, who was elected to the Governor’s Council in 2024 as the first former public defender to serve in that role, supported Ferriter’s confirmation. Dolan stated that concerns about the High Conflict Parent Education Program should not be attributed to Ferriter personally, noting that the nominee did not create the program or require individuals to participate. Dolan has also highlighted her broader priorities on the Governor’s Council, including criminal justice reform, trauma-informed judicial appointments, and ensuring judges understand the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.

Margie Palladino and supporters of her campaign believe this moment demonstrated the need for a stronger review process. One where the experiences of survivors, families, and individuals directly impacted by the courts are given meaningful consideration alongside professional qualifications.

For Margie, this race is about restoring public confidence in the judicial appointment process. She believes the Governor’s Council has a responsibility to ask difficult questions, seek independent perspectives, and ensure that people affected by the justice system have a meaningful voice.

The Governor’s Council plays a powerful role in determining who serves on the bench and makes decisions affecting children, families, and communities for generations.

Margie Palladino believes that responsibility requires compassion, accountability, transparency, and a commitment to listening to those who have lived through the system.

For voters who believe judicial appointments should be guided by public trust, survivor-informed perspectives, and a commitment to accountability, Margie Palladino offers a different vision for the future of the Governor’s Council.

Link to visit: Margie Palladino

The Democratic primary for Governor’s Council District 3 will be held September 1. Please join us to vote for Margie Palladino for Governor’s Council, a great listener and someone who will ask the tough questions.