Governor Maura Healey has nominated Stuart Hurowitz, the Supervising Attorney at the Worcester County Office of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, to the Massachusetts District Court. Hurowitz has over 30 years of legal experience, including 23 years specializing in criminal defense within the Commonwealth’s District and Superior Courts. He has held his current supervisory role for over a decade.
In addition, Hurowitz has taught as an adjunct and visiting professor at Boston University School of Law and Boston College Law School since 2001. He holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Hurowitz lives in Framingham with his wife and two children.
Governor Healey also nominated Polly Phillips, an attorney from Concord with a background in both prosecution and defense work, to the District Court. Phillips began her career at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, where she handled a wide range of misdemeanor and felony cases. She later joined the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, working in the Special Investigations and Narcotics Division. In 2005, she established her own defense practice, focusing on criminal defense in both District and Superior Courts. Additionally, she has served as a Bar advocate in multiple district courts, including Woburn, Concord, and Ayer, representing clients who cannot afford private counsel.
Hurowitz and Phillips are the 11th and 12th individuals nominated by Governor Healey to the District Court.
The Massachusetts District Court handles a broad range of cases, including criminal matters, civil disputes involving damages up to $50,000, small claims up to $7,000, housing, juvenile, and mental health cases. It operates in 62 locations across the state, making it a critical component of the state’s judicial system. For more information about the District Court’s jurisdiction and responsibilities, visit the District Court homepage.
