Governor Charlie Baker nominated Stephen W. McClenon as Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court. Attorney McClenon has over 25 years of legal experience.
“Attorney McClenon possesses decades of experience at trial both as a defense attorney and as a prosecutor, “ said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am pleased to submit this qualified candidate to the Governor’s Council for their advice and consent.”
“Throughout his career, Attorney McClenon has shown a deep commitment to criminal justice,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, I am confident that he will continue to serve the Commonwealth well as an Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court.”
The Boston Municipal Court Department has 30 judges serving the City of Boston in 8 court divisions located in Brighton, Central (downtown), Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury. Besides both criminal and civil cases, the Boston Municipal Court Department also has jurisdiction to review some government agency actions, such as unemployment compensation appeals and firearms license appeals.
Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth’s diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.
About Stephen W. McClenon
Stephen W. McClenon began his legal career in 1993 when he joined the Office of the Middlesex County District Attorney as an Assistant District Attorney where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses, developed and implemented trial strategy, prepared witnesses, recommended sample jury instructions, and conducted both bench and jury trials. In 1996, Attorney McClenon entered his own private practice, where he has practiced both criminal law and general civil law for more than 20 years. Prior to earning his law degree, Attorney McClenon worked as an environmental engineer at the Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas. Attorney McClenon is a member of Middlesex Defense Attorneys, serving on the Board of Directors since 2010 and as its Vice President since 2017. Attorney McClenon received his Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Howard University in 1988 and received his Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School in 1993.