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Robert Jubinville, a veteran defense attorney and current
Clerk-Magistrate, has announced that he will be a candidate for
Norfolk County District Attorney. He joins at least six other contenders who hope to replace long-serving DA, Michael Morrissey.
According to his press release, he is the only
career defense lawyer in a field otherwise composed entirely of
prosecutors, bringing years of trial experience and a fundamentally
different perspective to the race.
His decision to
run is rooted in deep concern over declining public confidence in the
office. The handling of the Karen Read, Aiden Kearney, and Sandra
Birchmore cases undermined public trust and resulted in the misuse of
taxpayer resources.
Jubinville
believes meaningful reform cannot come from within the current
prosecutorial culture—it requires new leadership with different
values.
Jubinville and
his family are longtime Norfolk County residents. He was educated in
local public schools and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
His years of
experience as a defense attorney, as well as a former member of the
Governor's Council, has given him a firsthand understanding of how
the justice system affects ordinary people—and what it takes to
make it work fairly for everyone.
Overzealous and
unethical prosecutors will no longer be handling cases in the Norfolk
County District Attorney's office under his leadership.
Jubinville is
committed to restoring integrity and public confidence to the office.
Robert Jubinville, a veteran defense attorney and current Clerk-Magistrate, has announced that he will be a candidate for Norfolk County District Attorney.
He is the only career defense lawyer in a field otherwise composed entirely of prosecutors, bringing years of trial experience and a fundamentally different perspective to the race.
His decision to run is rooted in deep concern over declining public confidence in the office. The handling of the Karen Read, Aiden Kearney, and Sandra Birchmore cases undermined public trust and resulted in the misuse of taxpayer resources.
Jubinville believes meaningful reform cannot come from within the current prosecutorial culture—it requires new leadership with different values.
Jubinville and his family are longtime Norfolk County residents. He was educated in local public schools and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
His years of experience as a defense attorney, as well as a former member of the Governor's Council, has given him a firsthand understanding of how the justice system affects ordinary people—and what it takes to make it work fairly for everyone.
Overzealous and unethical prosecutors will no longer be handling cases in the Norfolk County District Attorney's office under his leadership.
Jubinville is committed to restoring integrity and public confidence to the office.
For readers, the Jubinville name will be familiar from 2022 when he ran for Governor's Council while at the same time, apparently, working to secure a lifetime position as a Clerk-Magistrate in Framingham.
Raised in Holyoke, Jubinville worked as a sprinkler fitter before serving in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970, including time as a 'human guinea pig' at the US Army Natick Labs. He was a Massachusetts State Police trooper and detective from 1972 to 1979. He received his bachelor's degree from Suffolk University in 1973 and his juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1977.
A Dec. 27, 2022 State House News Service article describes Jubinville's 11th hour appointment as Clerk-Magistrate and some of the events leading up to that.
* * * * *
On Dec. 27, ... the Governor's Council sped through Gov. Charlie Baker's final judicial nominees Tuesday, more than a week before the term ends.
Baker's final appointee to cross the finish line was Councilor Robert Jubinville, who for the past decade has served on the panel that decides whether to approve judicial candidates. Baker tapped the Milton Democrat earlier this month for a lifetime appointment as clerk magistrate of Framingham District Court, a vacant position that had not been publicly posted.
Casting her vote for Jubinville, Councilor Mary Hurley noted that it was her "last official act." After the vote, Polito said it was "my final act, as well."
Jubinville was confirmed to the clerkship 6-1, with his colleague Councilor Marilyn Pettito Devaney dissenting. Devaney called Jubinville "qualified" during his public interview, but said she viewed confirming a councilor to a court posting as a "conflict of interest."
"If he resigned [from the council], I would have voted for him," Devaney told the News Service after Tuesday's session.
Jubinville's other colleagues rose in succession to praise his various attributes. One, Councilor Christopher Iannella Jr., pointed his praise back in Devaney's direction and said Jubinville had helped gather her nomination signatures when she had a deficit around six years ago.
"We're at the coffee shop, he says, 'I got a call from Councilor Devaney. We gotta help her, she's panicking.' And you know what Bob did? What a man of compassion. He convinced me, not once -- on two different cycles, you better believe it -- and you know how hard it is to get signatures. And Bob and I, especially Bob, put her over the top," Iannella said, adding, "And you know what? He's a decent, good person."
Councilor Paul DePalo of Worcester said he was voting for Jubinville "despite the unusual situation" of the nominee serving on the council because he is "eminently qualified."
As for Councilor Joseph Ferreira, Jubinville famously called him a "bootlicker" and "rubber stamp" during a heated council debate in 2017. But Ferreira bears no grudge, he said.
"Bob and I have had some very heated arguments in this very chamber," Ferreira said as laughter broke out in the chamber Tuesday. "It's been a little bit public. But is he qualified? Exceptionally well. Does he have the right temperament and empathy for people? He does. And that's why he has my vote today."
Jubinville exited the chamber while the council considered his new job.
He told the News Service he thinks he will start in Framingham District Court on Jan. 3 and was not sure about when he would officially leave the council, which is part of the Executive Branch.
Nearly 200,000 voters in Council District 2 just reelected Jubinville this fall to serve another two-year term, which is set to begin Jan. 5. His opponent, Republican Dashe Videira of Franklin, garnered 112,941 votes.
Those thousands of constituents could be left without representation on the council for an entire term unless the Legislature steps in. Filling council vacancies falls to the House and Senate, who can elect a new councilor (who resides in the district) with agreeing concurrent votes.
Asked whether the Legislature should fill his seat, Jubinville deferred to the lawmakers.
* * * * *
In the wake of his appointment, Observer got comments from his defeated Governor's Council opponent.
"I find it tremendously disheartening that Mr. Jubinville is giving up his seat less than one month after the Nov 8th election," said [Dashe] Videira. "I understand he was running unopposed originally. However, we ran a successful sticker campaign which proved to be quite victorious.
"As the community continues to advocate for transparency, the timing of this new role for Jubinville makes you question if this was previously “planned," especially when you find out from a tweet made by Howie Carr.
"I understand Jubinville was never actively campaigning, but his name was on the ballot! I believe Jubinville did a massive disservice to the people by keeping this secretive. To my understanding, the position he is taking has been vacant for quite some time. If he was planning to transition, the public should of been notified in advance," said Videira.
"I wish success for Jubinville in his new adventure but I hope the people are paying attention to the continued games within the world of politics," Videira added.
