By Michael Oliveira—michael@northstarreporter.com
With nearly 30 years of experience in the legal profession, Dave Reservitz is running for the District 2 seat on the state’s Governor’s Council.
Reservitz, a Needham resident, has been a lawyer for 28 years, working on criminal, civil and housing cases in the Attleboro, Taunton, Dedham, Wrentham, Fall River and Brockton courts.
He started his career as a public defender in Brockton and was later elected as the president of the Pilgrim Bar Advocates in 1998, and later as president of the Plymouth County Bar Association in 2008. As his career continued, he was appointed by then-Gov. Deval Patrick to the State Judicial Nominating Committee (JNC) to interview and vote on state judges.
“I am running for this position because I am the only candidate who has experience in judicial selection, and I am passionate about that,” said Reservitz. “A lot of people don’t know how our judges are selected — some states elect their judges on the street corner. However, in Massachusetts, we have an appointment process which is two steps.”
Reservitz explained that the first step for a lawyer if they want to be a judge is they would have to get through the appointing board of the JNC. After this, the second step is getting sent to the governor’s council.
The council meets weekly to record advice and consent on warrants for the state treasury, pardons, commutations, and recording advice and consent to gubernatorial appointments such as judges, clerk-magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Reviewing Board, notaries, and justices of the peace.
They are composed of eight individuals elected from districts, according to the state’s website. Every two years, eight councilors are elected from their respective districts. District 2 is composed of 36 communities which includes North Attleborough, Attleborough, and Plainville.
Reservitz is running for the Democratic nomination against fellow candidates Muriel Kramer, Sean Murphy and Tamisha Civil in the Sept. 3 primary. Currently, only one Republican is running at this time, Francis T. Crimmins Jr.
“Something I’d like to focus on if I get elected is to make sure that the judges running are experienced and know how to run a courtroom.” Reservitz continued.
Other issues he wants to focus on include diversity in the experience of candidates, the rise in hate crimes such as antisemitism and homophobia, and a woman’s right to choose.
For more information, visit www.votefordave.net,
