Image credit: Massachusetts Court System

Judge

Appeals Court

Appeals Court
John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108

Judicial Biography

Born:

July 2, 1964

Year admitted to bar:

1990

Year appointed/elected:

2022, by Gov. Charlie Baker
2002, by Gov. Jane M. Swift

Bench Service:

Appeals Court, 2022-present
District Court, 2002-2022

Notable Decisions:

Commonwealth v. Ananias

Background

Education:

Boston University School of Law, 1990
University of Pennsylvania, 1986

Professional

Legal Employment History:

Brennan began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on both domestic violence and gang-related crimes. From there he joined the firm Gilman, McLaughlin & Hanrahan as a Litigation Associate.

Thereafter, Brennan joined the Essex County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney where he was named Deputy Chief of the Sexual Assault Unit. In 2002, Brennan was appointed as a judge of the District Court. While serving as a judge of the District Court he was appointed as Regional Administrative Justice and also served as First Justice in the Salem District Court.

Reported Decisions
Other Links

Evaluations from Lawyers

4 = Excellent 3 = Good 2 = Fair 1 = Poor

	rating	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Manages court time in a way that minimizes waiting around:	3.5	3.0	3.0
Is receptive to requests for continuances:	3.7	2.9	2.9
Is receptive to lawyers’ requests for jury instructions and voir dire questions:	3.7	3.0	3.1
Presents easy-to-follow and legally sound instructions to jury:	4.0	3.1	3.2
Gives lawyers an opportunity to be heard prior to making legal findings and rulings:	3.8	3.1	3.1
Explains decisions in a manner that is clear to litigants and jurors:	3.5	3.0	3.0
Addresses the following with respect
a) litigants and witnesses:	3.5	3.2	3.2
b) lawyers:	3.5	3.0	3.0
c) court staff:	3.7	3.4	3.5
Attentiveness:	3.3	3.3	3.2
Timeliness of orders, judgments and decisions:	3.3	3.3	3.2
Demonstrates knowledge of substantive law and rules of evidence:	2.8	3.0	3.0
Quality of written decisions:	0.0	3.0	2.9
Shows willingness to ignore
a) irrelevant considerations:	3.0	2.9	2.9
c) identity of lawyers or parties:	3.3	3.0	3.0
d) public pressure or outside interests:	2.7	3.1	3.2
Has ability to maintain control of courtroom:	4.0	3.5	3.4
Starts session on schedule and on time:	3.3	3.3	3.2
Shows an appropriate degree of preparedness:	3.3	3.2	3.1
Average Overall Rating:	3.2	3.1	3.1

	% Yes Answer	averages for judges of this court	averages of all judges
Regularly keeps sessions past 4 p.m.:	0	31	26
Allows lawyers to lobby their cases in chambers:	100	65	47
Is rigid follower of court-mandated time standards:	0	48	45
Behaves differently when cameras are in the courtroom:	0	24	24

Comments

1) Be on time. Be prepared.

2) What a great judge, and a great guy. Always feel as though my arguments are carefully listened to, considered and weighed. He is always respectful of defendants. Keeps things moving along, but not at defendant’s expense (does not trade off careful consideration for timeliness). Can’t ask for more than that.

3) Fair Judge

4) could improve on having “judicial temperment” and consider mitigating factors

Judicial Profiles

Brennan, Robert A.