Mastroianni Confirmation

Floor Speech

Mr. President, earlier today, the Senate confirmed Mark Mastroianni to fill a judicial vacancy in Western Massachusetts on the District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Mr. Mastroianni came highly recommended by the Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations. The advisory committee is comprised of distinguished members of the Massachusetts legal community, including prominent academics and litigators, and is chaired by former Massachusetts district court judge Nancy Gertner. Their recommendation reflects the strong sense of the Massachusetts legal community--and in particular the legal community of Western Massachusetts--that he will make an excellent district court judge.

Mr. Mastroianni is a true son of Western Massachusetts--born in Springfield and a lifelong resident of Hampden County. Prior to his confirmation, he served as the elected district attorney for Hampden County--a position he has held since 2011. He graduated with honors from the American International College in Springfield, MA and went on to earn his law degree from Western New England College School of Law--also in Springfield, MA.

Mr. Mastroianni began his career in the Hampden County district attorney's office. He served there as an assistant district attorney for over 5 years, gaining prosecutorial experience in a wide variety of district and superior court matters. He then moved into private practice, where he built a significant career as a defense attorney representing clients in criminal and civil matters. Over the course of 16 years, he represented clients in matters before the Massachusetts State trial courts and appeals courts, as well as the district court to which he has been nominated.

In November 2010, Mastroianni ran as an independent and was successfully elected to serve as the district attorney for Hampden County in the western part of Massachusetts--a position that returned him to lead the office where he began his career. As district attorney, he was responsible for managing the prosecution of all cases in the 23 cities and towns that make up Hampden County.

Aside from the impressive qualifications of this candidate, the fact of Mark's nomination is particularly important because the seat he has been nominated to fill has been vacant for far too long--since U.S. District Court Judge Ponsor took senior status in 2011. The vacancy has strained the Federal judicial system in Western Massachusetts, causing cases to be postponed, forcing judges from Boston to travel to Springfield to hold hearings, and impeding the ability of citizens to get their day in court. Filling this vacancy as quickly as possible has been a top priority for me since I arrived in the Senate last year, and his confirmation will significantly improve the administration of justice in Western Massachusetts.

I am proud to have recommended Mark Mastroianni to President Obama. He is an independent-minded district attorney whose diverse litigation experiences, both as a top prosecutor and as a top defense attorney, will enrich the Federal bench in Massachusetts. I have no doubt that he will have a long and distinguished career as a member of the judiciary.

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