Governor Maura Healey continues to shape the judicial system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the nomination of Judge Jennifer M. Allen to the Appeals Court.
If her nomination is confirmed by the Governor’s Council, all vacant seats on the court will be filled—a significant accomplishment for a governor during her first term.
“Judge Allen has proven to be an effective judge on the Probate and Family Court, and I am confident that her knowledge and experience will be a valuable contribution to the work of the Appeals Court,” said Governor Healey in an official statement released Tuesday. “I’m grateful to the Governor’s Council for their consideration of her nomination,” Healey added.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll also praised the nomination: “I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council as they consider filling the final seat on the Appeals Court with Judge Allen, who is highly qualified for the role.”
The Massachusetts Appeals Court is the intermediate appellate court within the state’s judicial system. It is composed of a Chief Justice and 24 Associate Justices and hears appeals from decisions issued by various departments of the Trial Court. It also reviews appeals from three state agencies: the Appellate Tax Board, the Industrial Accident Board, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, according to the Governor’s Office.
With this latest nomination, Governor Healey continues her efforts to strengthen the court. She has already nominated Judge Amy L. Blake as Chief Justice, along with Associate Justices Gloria Tan, Chauncey Wood, and Robert E. Toone.
Judge Jennifer M. Allen currently serves as an Associate Justice of the Probate and Family Court, where she handles a wide range of cases, including divorce, child custody, support, adoption, and parentage matters. Since her appointment in 2019, she has served five years in Middlesex County and one year in Norfolk County.
An active lecturer for law students, attorneys, and new judges, she regularly speaks on topics related to her field, such as alimony, business valuations, evidence, mental health evaluations, and ethical considerations. A long-standing member of the Massachusetts legal community, she served on the board of the Probate and Family Inn of Court and currently sits on the Supreme Judicial Court Subcommittee on Judicial Wellbeing, according to the Governor’s communications office.
Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Allen was in private practice, specializing in divorce, custody, support, and guardianship cases. She also served as a special master and guardian ad litem, while assisting colleagues at the law firm Catanzaro and Allen in real estate transactions, land use planning, estate matters, and civil litigation. As an attorney, she served on the board of directors of MetroWest Legal Services.
Judge Allen earned her B.A. cum laude from Brandeis University and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.
