George A. O'Toole Jr. explained

George A. O'Toole Jr.
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Term Start:January 1, 2018
Office1:Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Appointer1:Bill Clinton
Term Start1:May 26, 1995
Term End1:January 1, 2018
Predecessor1:new seat authorized by 104 Stat. 5089
Successor1:Myong J. Joun
Birth Date:7 October 1947
Education:Boston College (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

George Augustine O'Toole Jr.[1] (born October 7, 1947) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Education and career

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, O'Toole received a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College in 1969 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1972. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1972 to 1982. He was an associate justice of the Boston Municipal Court from 1982 to 1990, and of the Superior Court of Massachusetts from 1990 to 1995.

Federal judicial service

On April 4, 1995, O'Toole was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts created by 104 Stat. 5089 following the appointment of Rya W. Zobel as director of the Federal Judicial Center. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 25, 1995, and received his commission on May 26, 1995. He assumed senior status on January 1, 2018.

Notable decision

O'Toole presided over the 2015 trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombing.[2] [3]

Personal life

He is married to Lucy A. Flynn, a local banker, businesswoman,[4] and community activist. They have two sons, George and John.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, First Session, on Confirmations of Appointees to the Federal Judiciary, February 8, 27; March 28; May 4; June 6 and 27, 1995. 697. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1996.
  2. http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/02/us/boston-marathon-bombing-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-trial/ Boston Marathon Bombing
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30680319 Boston bombing: Jury selection begins in Tsarnaev case
  4. https://www.jdjournal.com/2014/12/26/boston-bomber-judge-has-tough-reputation/