Mara Dolan

Mara Dolan was born in Exeter, New Hampshire. She earned a high school diploma from St. Xavier's Academy. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1997 and a law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover in 2003. Her career experience includes working as an attorney at law and communications director. She has been affiliated with League of Women Voters and Left of Center.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the first public defender elected to the Governor's Council, first elected in 2024. I ran on a platform of bringing the voice of our most vulnerable to the Governor's Council, and I have. I promised to make sure judicial nominees would fight systemic racism with every tool the law provides, and I do. I promised to make sure judges understand the science of addiction and know how to work to support recovery. I promised to make sure our Juvenile Court nominees understand the science of brain development and do not treat children as they would adults. I also promised to make sure our courts uphold abortion rights, and I do. I have fulfilled all my campaign promises and risen to meet new challenges, like fighting ICE in our courts and leading in the resistance against rising authoritarianism.

In my first term I have vetted and voted on 100 nominees, and I have always voted my conscience after thorough vetting. Our courts are moving in the right direction, with judges who not only know the law but who are also compassionate, insightful, conscientious, and have an excellent judicial temperament. I am particularly concerned about people who are unable to pay for an attorney and who therefore represent themselves in court. This is often seen in our Housing Courts, Probate and Family Courts, and before the Appellate Tax Board. While judges cannot provide legal advice to parties, they can and must make sure that people understand that the law was fairly applied.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

My work as a public defender informs everything I do as a Governor's Councillor. I am particularly concerned with out most vulnerable, and making sure their perspective and their concerns are addressed by nominees. Fighting systemic racism, making sure people with a substance use or alcohol use disorder get treatment instead of incarceration, making sure Juvenile Court nominees understand the science of brain development, fighting ICE in our courts, upholding abortion rights, sensible gun safety laws, workers rights, environmental protections, tax fairness, and LGBTQ rights are just some of my priorities and the issues I make sure our judicial nominees are on the right side of.In a time our federal courts are taking away our rights, we've got to make sure our state courts uphold them. Our courts must continue to move in the right direction, with judges who not only have a rock solid understanding of the law, but who are insightful and compassionate. Maintaining and upholding confidence in our judiciary is critical. To do that, every single incoming judge must be held to the highest ethical and humanitarian standards. I look to the nominees histories to see whether they have an establish track record of working for justice, and not just for punishment. I look for diversity, equity, and inclusion, making sure that all nominees have cultural competencies and will understand the people who appear before them.Judges must be able to fully understand the people who appear before them, and never discriminate based on any externalities. I have clients who come to court in sweatpants, a t-shirt, and flip flops because that is all they have, and that must never be held against them. Judges must work for disability justice, and take into account the simple truth that not everyone is able to move in the world in the same way. People who are struggling economically, or suffering from mental health issues, or fighting bravely against an alcohol use or substance use disorder must be credited for the hard work they are doing, not dismissed as failures. Judges must understand that no one wants to be struggling. They just want the support they need.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Equal justice under the law is my top concern. We are living in a time where the federal government is actively promoting discrimination based on sex, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and wealth. It is profoundly wrong and unconstitutional. I make sure all nominees will never discriminate against anyone, and treat everyone equally as the law requires. As someone who had an abortion at 19, I am deeply grateful that the laws of Massachusetts made my whole life possible. So I make sure that all nominees will uphold abortion rights. Extreme abortion bans are killing women all across the country, and we must make sure that Massachusetts remains a place where abortion is accessible, safe, and legal.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Dolly Parton just passed, so I am thinking of her. She was extraordinarily talented and had a heart of pure gold. I also deeply admire and try to emulate Mr. Rogers. He believed in acknowledging the feelings of other and in always being kind.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, good judgment, values, commitment to strengthening our democracy.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Knowledge of our state courts and the issues we need to address there.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Standing up for what's right, and making sure our judges are insightful and compassionate.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a newspaper girl when I was a freshman in high school. I delivered papers for about a year, and then I got a job as a library page.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have had to support myself since I was 18 years old, before I even had a high school diploma. I had to make it on my own, and got through college, law school, and started a law practice as a single mother. I had to fight a lot of battles, but those battles made me very strong. They also made me determined to fight for justice on behalf of those who cannot fight for themselves.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Governor's Council approves pardons and commutations, after the governor has made a recommendation. Pardons and commutations are two of the most powerful tools we have to address injustice.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

Every single person in Massachusetts is impacted by decisions made in our state courts. The Governor's Council is the gateway to an entire branch of government, the judicial branch. You don't get in without getting through the Governor's Council first.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Congresswoman and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark

Congresswoman Lori Trahan

State Senator Mike Barrett

State Senator Will Brownsberger

State Senator Jamie Eldridge

State Senator Cindy Friedman

State Senator Lydia Edwards

Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian

House Majority Leader Mike Moran

State Reps. James Arciero, Simon Cataldo, Michelle Ciccolo, Kate Donaghue, Sean Garballey, Carmine Gentile, Ken Gordon, Rich Haggerty, Kevin Honan, John Lawn, David Linsky, Dave Rogers, Amy Sangiolo, Greg Schwartz, Dan Sena, Tom Stanley, and Tommy Vittolo

Boston City Council President Liz Breadon

Progressive Mass

Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts

IBEW Local 103, Boston Firefighters Local 718, Boston Policle Patrolmen's Association and EMS, LiUNA

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The moon landing.

Video for [the profile publisher]

Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased July 27, 2024

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

If you care who our judges are, you need to care who your Governor's Councillor is. The Governor's Council confirms judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons. I am running to be the first public defender on the Governor's Council. It's a perspective that is badly needed, and badly overdue. I have been a social justice advocate all my life, attending social work school before graduating from law school. I am the only pro-choice, pro-science progressive in the race, with the most endorsements of any Democratic primary challenger in any race in Massachusetts that anyone can remember. The people you trust, trust me and know I will do the work that needs to be done to stand up for reproductive rights, disability rights, juvenile justice reform, and fight systemic racism in our courts.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

In a time when federal courts are taking away our rights, we must make sure our state courts uphold them. Abortion rights, civil rights, environmental rights, workers rights and more are all at stake, and no one will be a stronger defender of our rights than I will.Substance use disorder and addiction are treated like a crime in our courts. The science is clear that addiction is a recurring disorder of the brain that does not respond to negative consequences. Yet most judges incarcerate people in recovery who relapse. Even though that is not a crime it can be a violation of conditions of release. Science also tells us that incarcerating people for relapse is the most harmful thing we can do, isolating people in recovery from supports they already have in place. People are most likely to overdose after being released from prison. I'll make sure judges understand the science of addiction and know how to work to support recovery.Racial disparities in Massachusetts courts are below the national average. We must fight systemic racism with every tool that the law allows, and I will make sure all judges are ready, willing, and able to do that.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Upholding equal justice under the law. We must make sure that everyone who appears in our courts leaves knowing they have been treated equally, without regard to their wealth, their race, their religion, their sex, their gender presentation, or anything else.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

One of my earliest heroes was Shirley Chisholm. My father took me to see her speak when she was running for President. My father told me that people thought she could never be President because she was a Black woman. I thought that was terrible and asked him if that was true. He said that someday we would have a Black woman President, but that it would take a long time. So I decided that all we had to do was keeping working, and we could make it happen!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Aeneid. I studied it in college and it changed my life. It taught me that obstacles are a part of life and that I must always persist to overcome them, never becoming discouraged and always believing that with enough work and time, those obstacles can be overcome. I would also recommend the United States Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights. I deeply believe in them, and that's why my life's work has been to defend people's rights.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Transparency and honesty. Democracy depends upon an informed electorate being able to vote their conscience. Elected officials must be honest and transparent about the work they are doing, and never forget that they are working for their constituents.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My experience as a public defender, because the Governor's Council has never had a public defender and I will bring a perspective that is badly needed and badly overdue. I have a very strong moral compass and stand up for what I believe. I care tremendously about having the best government we can have, and have built a very strong community throughout my district with this campaign. I will continue to build that community and strengthen it, to make sure everyone knows about the work of the Governor's Council.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Vetting and voting on judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons. The Governor's Council is the gateway to the judicial branch of our government, the safeguard against corruption and people placed in positions of extraordinary power who would not reflect the values of the people. It is therefore essential that a Governor's Councillor share those values and safeguard them.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'd like to leave our justice system more just than I find it, with more effective treatment for substance use disorder, juvenile justice reform, and the end of racial disparity. One of the issues in my race has been simply informing voters about the work of the Governor's Council, because far too many have never even heard of it. Governor's Councillors are the most consequential, least-known elected officials in Massachusetts. I want to put an end to that, so that everyone knows what the Governor's Council does, and how incredibly important it is that we elect the best people to serve.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The moon landing. I was six, and I was very excited and inspired by space exploration. I wrote to NASA to say that I'd like to be an astronaut, and they sent me a form letter saying that girls couldn't be astronauts. I didn't think that was right, and thought less of NASA because of it. But it didn't stop me from being excited about space exploration and I hoped that someday girls would grow up to be astronauts. And they did!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a newspaper girl for The Providence Journal. I did it for about a year. I loved seeing the paper first thing in the morning, and delivering it in my neighborhood.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Very hard to pick just one, so I'll go with a collection of essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here's one of my favorite quotes of his. "The wealth of the universe is for me. Everything that is possible is practical for me. I am defeated all the time, yet to victory I am born."

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I truly do not know! All great fictional characters have flaws and go through terrible struggles and sometimes tragedy, so I'm not sure I'd want to be any of them.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Honey", by Mariah Carey

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My sister suffered from an alcohol use disorder, and had long periods of sobriety with extraordinary achievement as an artist and as a mother. Her periods of relapse were extraordinarily painful for everyone who loved her, and there were a lot of us. Not being able to do more was extremely painful, as was knowing that she was suffering. That's why I feel as strongly as I do about making sure that others who suffer from a substance use disorder are treated appropriate by our court system. It isn't just those with addiction who suffer, it is everyone in their communities.

Tell us your favorite joke.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I am the most endorsed Democratic primary challenger in any race in Massachusetts that anyone can remember. State Auditor Diana Dizoglio; Congressman Seth Moulton; State Senators Mike Barrett, Will Brownsberger, Jamie Eldridge, Cindy Friedman, and Becca Rausch; House Majority Leader Mike Moran; House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch; State Reps. James Arciero, Simon Cataldo, Michelle Ciccolo, Ken Gordon, Rich Haggerty, John Lawn, Dave Rogers, Daniello Sena, Tom Stanley, and Tommy Vittolo; Harvard Law Professor Larry Tribe; Danielle Allen; Jesse Mermell; Progressive Dems of MA; Progressive Mass; IBEW Local 103, Ironworkers Local 7, State Police Association of MA. For full list, see below.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Transparency is critical to ensuring that the work of the people is being done. We must have full transparency and accountability from all our elected officials.

Note: Dolan submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on July 29, 2024.

Show past responsesHide past responses

June 26 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Running to be the first public defender on the Governor's Council. If you care who our judges are, you need to care who your Governor's Councillor is. The Governor's Council confirms our judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons. It's time to have a public defender to help us make those decisions.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am the only pro-choice candidate in the race. My opponent voted to confirm an anti-choice just weeks after Roe v. Wade was overturned. I will never vote to confirm anyone who is not pro-choice.Far too many judges in Massachusetts send people to jail for relapse, even though relapse is often a part of recovery and it not a crime in itself. The science is clear that incarcerated people for relapse is the most harmful thing that we can do. I'll make sure all nominees understand the science of addiction and work to support recovery..I have represented hundreds and hundreds of children in our Juvenile Courts. We need to raise the age of Juvenile Court jurisdiction. My opponent denies the science of brain development, and recently called it "just pages in a book". I know the science is real, and that we must not treat children and emerging adults the way we treat those who are fully developed.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Abortion rights, civil rights, workers' rights, equal rights, and ending discrimination in all forms.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The Governor's Council is the gateway to an entire branch of government, the judicial branch. It is extraordinarily consequential, and therefore our Governor's Councillor must have experience working in our courts, have integrity, and be fully responsive to and communicative with the people of the district.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to people who show political courage and moral leadership, President Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Eleanor Roosevelt, Shirley Chisholm, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frances Perkins, and Ann Richards.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

To Kill A Mockingbird, The United States Constitution, and the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Experience, good values, honesty, communication skills, strong work ethic, ability to respond to the needs of constituents.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My experience as a public defender, my values, my compassion, my communication skills, and my work ethic.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Vetting and voting on nominations to the judiciary, the Parole Board, and commutations and pardons, ensuring that all nominees will uphold equal justice under the law, communicating with constituents about the work being done and responding to their concerns.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave our judicial branch stronger than I found it, with equal justice under the law for all.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the first moon landing. I was six years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a newspaper girl, delivering the morning paper. I did that for about two years, starting when I was 14.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I practically had them memorized when I was a child. I loved reading about pioneering, about a loving family that worked together, and all of the author's beautifully written characters and settings.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

That's a very difficult question. I am very engaged in my own life and loving my journey. Wouldn't trade with anyone.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Espresso, by Sabrina Carpenter.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have overcome a lot of hardships. I have supported myself since I was 18, and did not even have a high school diploma. I supported myself doing secretarial work, got a G.E.D., went to college, became a mother, went to law school, and started a law practice. I had to work extremely hard to achieve my goals, and my hard work made me very strong and compassionate toward others who struggle.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Voting and vetting judicial nominees. In a time when our federal courts are taking away our rights, we must make sure our state courts uphold them.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Approval of warrants to the General Treasury, which ensure that funds are provided when necessary.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Understanding how our state government works is essential to the position, and therefore experience in our state government is invaluable. I am a former legislative staffer, having served as Communications Director to the Senate President. Understanding how the three branches of government work is critical.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I have been a public defender for 17 years, working all across Massachusetts in our District, Juvenile, and Superior Courts. Knowledge of our court system is essential to being an effective Governor's Councillor. I have also been a professional communications person, and know how to keep constituents informed and engaged. One of the reasons so few know about the Governor's Council is that the incumbent, who has served for 25 years, has not been an effective communicator and has not informed the people of the district about the work of the Governor's Council.

Tell us your favorite joke.

There were two muffins sitting in the oven.

One of them said, "Hot in here."

The other says, "Wow! Who ever heard of a talking muffin?"

I have no idea why that cracks me up, but it totally does.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio; Congressman Seth Moulton; State Senators Mike Barrett, Will Brownsberger, Jamie Eldridge, Cindy Friedman, and Becca Rausch; House Majority Leader Mike Moran; House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch; State Representatives James Arciero, Simon Cataldo, Michelle Ciccolo, Ken Gordon, Rich Haggerty, John Lawn, Dave Rogers, Daniello Sena, Tom Stanley, and Tommy Vitolo; Harvard Law Professor Larry Tribe; Danielle Allen; IBEW Local 103, Ironworkers Local 7, Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council, Merrimack Valley Building Trades Union, Plumbers and Gasfitters Local Union #12, State Police Association of Massachusetts, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America Local 2168, too many to list them all!

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Government must be fully transparent and accountable.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

State ballot initiatives must be clear and understandable.

Campaign website

Dolan’s campaign website stated the following:

I see the court system through the eyes of my clients.

I have been a public defender for 15 years, and deeply love the work and the law. I have worked with children, young and emerging adults, and adults in the District, Superior, and Juvenile Courts. I have stood beside defendants as they faced a judge thousands of times, representing clients in Lawrence, Springfield, and Worcester. Though Massachusetts has many exceptionally gifted and capable judges, we also have some critical areas where the judiciary needs improvement. As Senator Mike Barrett said when he endorsed me, "Our judiciary is loaded with prosecutors. Mara has the values and experience needed to get us closer to balance."

The Governor’s Council has never had a public defender to help us decide who our judges are going to be, who sits on our Parole Board, and who receives commutations and pardons. We need to make that right, and we can do that this year.

From my own professional experience, I have seen that we must have judges who respect the science around addiction, as far too many who need recovery are taken into custody following relapse. It's expensive, it doesn't work, and often it makes recovery even harder. Additionally, we must have judges who respect the science around brain development in children and emerging adults, so that we don't treat a 13-year-old the way we would treat a 35-year-old.

Everyone who leaves court should feel that they have been treated fairly, with equal justice under the law. Judges must treat the people who appear before them with respect, model healthy conflict resolution, and be exceptional examples of our government.

As a public defender, I see the court system through the eyes of my clients. They can either leave court better positioned to make their lives the way they want them to be, or face an even higher hill to climb. As Governor’s Councilor, I will make sure that every nominee who appears before me shows that they have the character, experience, values, and courage to uphold the law and treat everyone who appears before them equally. [6]

—Mara Dolan’s campaign website (2024)[7]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a public defender running for Governor's Council, which decides who our judges are going to be, our Parole Board members, and who receives a commutation or a pardon. We must have a Governor's Councilor who understands the issues facing our courts, from how our record high opiate overdose rate is impacted by decisions by judges and Parole Board members who do not understand the science of addiction and how to support recovery. I will make certain that all nominees are 100% pro choice before voting yes, as 1 in 4 minors in Massachusetts who seeks an abortion goes before a Superior Court judge for authorization. I will be certain that all Parole Board nominees support commutations and pardons where appropriate, as only two have been issued