So anyway, it’s like this.
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Margot Botsford does the right thing and uses some influence to get her nephew, a kid by the name of Mahoney, a job. Judge Robert Mulligan is the judge that does the hiring and signs him on as a security guard at the entrance of the Dedham courthouse. Well, like everyone else who gets their foot in the door the kid eventually wants to move up. In this case to court officer. Again, nothing wrong with that. The kid’s aunt calls Mulligan and puts a word in for him. The kid gets the court officer’s job. Now, unlike the security job, the kid is set for life. His mother and aunt can relax.
Well, like all promotions that occur in hen houses there was squawking. Why-him-and-not-me-or-so-and-so. People bitched and moaned. In response to such pressure, Mulligan, the man with the lifetime appointment, demoted the kid back to security guard. He’s currently suing. (I hope the Globe publishes those depositions)
You haven’t heard the best part yet. A little background. Judge Mulligan is the Chief Justice of the Trial Courts. He is appointed by the members of the Supreme Judicial Court for a five year term. (I think it’s five) He still a regular judge with the lifetime gig. Just not assigned to this job.
So anyway the SJC was deadlocked with three Justices favoring Mulligan for re-appointment and three against. Justice Botsford was non-committal. The day after her nephew was appointed to the court officer’s job Mulligan got his re-appointment as Viceroy to the Trial Courts. Botsford broke the tie.
I don’t have problem with Botsford on this. Others may. But as for Mulligan, what does this say about the man? A bigger weasel than I thought. But explains a lot.
Unlike Vinny Piro who took the money and then gave it back, Mulligan took the money, kept it, and then did a double-cross. He gave nothing in return. He went to the drug deal with a briefcase full sugar and flour, no cocaine. That’s a dangerous game amigo.
This elitist bastard is just not a good guy and this incident proves it. In my world anyway.
Are you selling jobs up there? Jobs for jobs? That’s how it appears to me. You hire the nephew of someone that can appoint you to state job to do another state job so that person will hire you. And they do. The very next day. Seems a little corrupt to me Judge. Much much different then when a business executive donates to a legislator and very soon after their bill moves along.
Perhaps that vote by the justices to re-appoint was not legitimate. A new vote perhaps, with Judge Botsford excusing herself?
Hey Judge Mulligan, this is what happens when you go nuclear you putzs. People talk. And in courthouses that’s all they do. This is just part 2 in a series. I expect when we add everything up Jack O’Brien’s record won’t look so bad.
Drip drip drip
Is this post a fair use of BMG? I don’t think we ought to be a forum for EB3’s pseudonymous and unsourced revenge postings on behalf of O’Brien.
<
p>TedF
Thank you Ernie and BMG for this unique and valuable Spotlight series on the cronyism and patronage in the elite stratosphere of judges and academics. The alarming action here isn’t the hiring of Botsford’s nephew, but the quid pro quo of trading jobs for jobs, compromising the integrity of the court. If this is true, Mulligan and Botsford should both step down, to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
<
p>(Though Ted is right that sources would be good for added bonus credibility (not that you need any additional credibility))
Did Vinny “Grease a Few Guys” Piro give the money back before or after he got caught?
before he was caught. It is said he was tipped off by Marie Howe, the former Somerville rep. Marie was a huge supporter of the Irish cause back then. It make sense that she would have friends in the FBI or somewhere else that would give her this info.