MBA President-elect Squillante honored
MBA President-elect Denise Squillante, a Fall River native, was
honored with the John S. Brayton Jr. Memorial Community Service
Award by the Fall River Chamber of Commerce on June 17.
Squillante was one of eight to receive the award - named for a
member of one of Fall River's pioneer families - during a banquet
at the Venus de Milo restaurant in Swansea. The chamber selected
Squillante for the honor because of her strong commitment to the
community, much like Brayton, who championed the strengths of
Southeastern Massachusetts and helped lead tourism on the
waterfront.
A solo practitioner, Squillante established her practice of
nearly 30 years in Fall River. She concentrates in family law,
corporate law, injury and estates, and also provides business and
legal consulting services to corporations.
A former president of the Fall River Bar Association, Squillante
is currently vice president of the New England Bar Association and
a member of the Bristol County Bar Association Executive Board.
Highly involved with efforts to address domestic violence in
Fall River, Squillante is a former member of the board of directors
at the Katie Brown Educational Program, YMCA-Fall River and
Domestic Violence Task Force. In addition, she is a former visiting
lecturer at Bridgewater State College and Bristol Community
College.
CPCS Chief Counsel Leahy to retire July 30
William J. Leahy, who served as chief counsel for the Committee
for Public Council Services for more than 19 years, is set to
retire at the end of July.
Leahy had announced his decision to retire in November to allow
for his replacement to be chosen and to work on the transition.
Anthony Benedetti, who has been CPCS general counsel since 1998,
will take over as chief counsel on Aug. 2. The chief counsel is
responsible for day-to-day operations of CPCS.
Leahy, who worked as a public defender for almost 36 years,
emphasized in his announcement to CPCS staff that he would not be a
lame-duck, but would continue fighting for adequate funding to help
represent clients.
"… We should be very proud that we have worked together so
skillfully to ensure that every indigent client in every case
receives the effective assistance of counsel, not some
pale pretense," Leahy wrote.
"The continuation of this magnificent accomplishment - and when
I say continuation, I do mean to include its continuous improvement
- is our greatest challenge, a challenge I have no doubt we will
fulfill."
Chief Justices Connolly, Pierce honored by
BBA
The Boston Bar Association honored Chief Justice Lynda M.
Connolly of the Massachusetts District Court and Chief Justice
Steven D. Pierce of the Housing Court with Citations of
Distinguished Judicial Excellence at the BBA's Law Day Dinner on
May 25 at the Westin Copley Place.
"Chief Justice Connolly and Chief Justice Pierce have
distinguished themselves as leaders of their respective courts,
dealing with the most immediate and pressing legal needs of our
fellow citizens, but also as leaders in the effort to help the
Trial Court Department determine how best to deliver justice when
faced with a severe fiscal crisis," said BBA President Jack
Regan.
Two years ago, Connolly and Pierce were asked to serve as
co-chairs of the Trial Court's Fiscal Task Force. Their assignment
was to analyze court operations and make recommendations about how
the seven Departments of the Trial Court could make adjustments to
live within the budget provided by the Legislature while still
providing access to justice.
Leading an interdepartmental group of Trial Court leaders for
nearly two years, Connolly and Pierce have steered a system-wide
effort to reduce expenses and improve efficiency in response to the
fiscal crisis.