BOSTON — The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has appointed Michael P. Coelho as the next administrator of the Massachusetts Trial Court, succeeding Thomas G. Ambrosino, who retired in September.
Coelho will begin his new position on Oct. 13, 2026.
According to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the court administrator co-leads the Massachusetts Trial Court with its chief justice. The Trial Court is the largest component of the state’s Judicial Branch, with seven court departments, more than 6,400 employees, and 94 courthouses throughout the Commonwealth.
The court administrator oversees administrative functions including the Trial Court’s budget, labor relations, information technology, capital projects, security, and personnel policy. The position was created by state legislation enacted in 2011.
Coelho currently serves as deputy commissioner of programs for the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, where he oversees the Massachusetts Probation Service’s involvement in specialty courts, the interstate compact unit, the research division, the substance use testing program, and reentry and sober housing placements.
“Mike has extensive management experience in the Trial Court and in the other branches of Massachusetts government,” Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd said. “The justices are confident that this background will serve him well in his new role.”
Coelho previously spent three years as assistant secretary for policy and planning for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and, prior to that, served as the office’s chief of staff. Earlier in his career, he worked as a legislative director for the Executive Office of former Governor Mitt Romney.
Coelho earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Coelho said he is committed to continuing the Trial Court’s work to provide equal access to justice and improve the administration of the court system.
“I look forward to continuing the great work of my predecessor Tom Ambrosino in advocating for the operational resources to meet the needs of the Court, and of all our employees and court users,” Coelho said.
Trial Court Chief Justice Heidi E. Brieger said Coelho’s extensive state government experience, including more than 12 years in leadership with the Massachusetts Probation Service, will be an asset as the Trial Court continues modernizing its operations.
“Mike’s experience in state government and his more than 12 years in a leadership role at the Massachusetts Probation Service give him a valuable perspective on Trial Court operations,” Brieger said. “I look forward to working together as we continue to modernize court operations, support our workforce, and strengthen public trust in the court system.”
