Judge, defense lawyer nominated for District Court

Gov. Maura T. Healey on July 2 tapped a Juvenile Court judge and a criminal defense lawyer for seats on the District Court bench.

Healey nominated Judge Joanna Rodriguez and Woburn attorney Lisa S. Core to the court, calling them “highly-qualified nominees” whose “decades of experience in our courts will be incredibly valuable.”

Rodriguez has been a Juvenile Court judge since 2020. She previously was deputy general counsel to the Sex Offender Registry Board and maintained a solo practice.

Core has been a sole practitioner for about a decade, focusing on court-appointed and private criminal defense. She also has experience as an assistant district attorney in Essex County, as supervisor of Lynn District Court and Lynn Gun Court, and as a law clerk to the Appeals Court.

The Governor’s Council has not yet scheduled confirmation hearings for the nominees.