If, and it’s not really a big if, but if District Court Judge Mark Mason joins the Massachusetts’ Superior Court, he already understands the special role he will play in cases involving the criminal justice system and members of the LGBT Community. As an openly gay man he feels added responsibility to be sensitive to problems faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who appear before him in court after the issue was raised by a member of the Governor’s Council, according to MassLive.com.
Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff, who is also gay, told Mason she would hold him to a higher standard, if confirmed for a seat on the Superior Court bench. Duff said LGBT teenagers, in particular, have higher rates of suicide, homelessness, drug addiction, and risk of prostitution.
“I am putting a higher level of responsibility on you to make sure there is safety for these kids,” Duff said.
“I respect, appreciate, and agree with everything you have just stated,” Mason said to Duff, during his confirmation hearing Wednesday. “Judges are not just members of the judiciary. They are community leaders. I do agree there is more responsibility on my shoulders,” he added. He added that as said as a judge he pays particular attention to transgender discrimination, and has “zero-tolerance” for it. “I am very sensitive to those particular issues,” he said.
Mason is Gov. Deval Patrick’s pick for a seat on the Superior Court in Springfield. Since 2009, he has been a district court judge in Springfield.
According to the article, “Mason said he is “deeply opposed” to mandatory minimum sentences, but understands that as a sitting judge is bound to enforce them by law. “Judges should have as much discretion as possible in sentencing individuals,” he said. Mason also said he takes sentencing very seriously, considering several factors including public safety, the need for victim restitution, and rehabilitation of the defendant. Every individual is different, and mandatory minimum sentences do not take that into account, he said.
It is hard to gauge exactly how many judges there are in the United States who label themselves as members of the LGBT community including at the district, superior, state or federal level since it is believed that many still remain closed but guesses including around two percent.
There has never been an openly gay judge sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court.
as an openly gay man to be sensitive to problems faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who appear before him in court after the issue was raised by a member of the Governor’s Council.
