New Bedford Lawyer Named Fall River District Court Judge

Fall River District Court will soon have a new associate judge, and he's a longtime New Bedford lawyer from a well-known family.

Joseph P. Harrington, Jr. was nominated by Gov. Charlie Baker back in October. Baker said at the time that Harrington, with his 25 years practicing law in the public and private sectors, was well-qualified for the bench. Harrington was confirmed, and he will be sworn in next month.

Although Harrington lives in Milton, his law practice is in New Bedford, and his roots in the Whaling City run deep. Harrington's late father was a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor and city councilor. His uncle was former Mayor of New Bedford. Harrington himself graduated from Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth and was a top student at Boston College and New England College of Law.

Harrington began his legal career in 1992 as a law clerk at Healy and Healy, P.C., an insurance defense firm. He became an associate in 1994. In 1995, he joined the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney, where he prosecuted cases until 1998. He joined Joseph P. Harrington, P.C. in 1998 and has served as its sole practitioner since 2011.