Michael W. Morrissey
Michael W. Morrissey (born August 2, 1954) is the District Attorney of Norfolk County, Massachusetts (2011–present).[1] He previously served as a State Senator for the Norfolk and Plymouth district (1993–2011) and a State Representative for the 1st Norfolk and 3rd Norfolk districts (1977–1993). He is a Democrat and resides in North Quincy, a neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts.[2][3]
Michael W. Morrissey | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Morrissey in 2007 | |
| District Attorney of Norfolk County | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Keating |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Norfolk and Plymouth district | |
| In office 1993 – January 2, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Paul D. Harold |
| Succeeded by | John F. Keenan |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 1st Norfolk district | |
| In office 1979–1993 | |
| Preceded by | Robert A. Cerasoli |
| Succeeded by | Michael G. Bellotti |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 3rd Norfolk district | |
| In office 1977–1979 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph E. Brett |
| Succeeded by | Robert A. Cerasoli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 2, 1954 Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joanne Morrissey |
| Residence(s) | North Quincy, Quincy, Massachusetts, United States |
| Education | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Alma mater | University of Massachusetts Amherst (B.A.) Western New England University (MPA) Suffolk University Law School (J.D.) |
| Occupation | District Attorney |
| Website | |
Biography
Morrissey was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on August 2, 1954. He attended public schools in Quincy. He received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.P.A. from Western New England College. He graduated from Suffolk University Law School in 1985 with a J.D. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he represented the 3rd Norfolk district from 1977 to 1979 and the 1st Norfolk district from 1979 to 1993. He was then elected to the Massachusetts Senate, where he represented the Norfolk and Plymouth district from 1993 to 2011.[2][3]
Morrissey's full term as District Attorney started on January 5, 2011. He was sworn in early on January 2 to succeed William R. Keating, who resigned to take a seat in the United States House of Representatives.[1]
Electoral History[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael W. Morrissey | 208,563 | 98.2 | ||
| Write-in | 3,750 | 1.8 | |||
| Total votes | 212,313 | 100.0 | |||
| Blank | 75,606 | ||||
| Turnout | 287,919 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael W. Morrissey | 231,828 | 98.8 | ||
| Write-in | 2,869 | 1.2 | |||
| Total votes | 234,697 | 100.0 | |||
| Blank | 77,455 | ||||
| Turnout | 312,152 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael W. Morrissey | 173,820 | 98.9 | ||
| Write-in | 1,993 | 1.1 | |||
| Total votes | 175,813 | 100.0 | |||
| Blank | 78,414 | ||||
| Turnout | 254,227 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael W. Morrissey | 147,645 | 60.2 | ||
| Independent | John. F Coffey | 97,456 | 39.7 | ||
| Write-in | 354 | .1 | |||
| Total votes | 175,813 | 100.0 | |||
| Blank | 22,924 | ||||
| Turnout | 273,538 | ||||
Notable Cases
Commonwealth vs. Karen Read
Morrissey served as the District Attorney prosecuting the Commonwealth vs. Karen Read, involving the January 2022 death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.
In August 2023, a Massachusetts citizen ballot initiative petition was proposed to add Recall elections to the Massachusetts Constitution in response to Morrissey's perceived corruption in the case.[5]
On August 25, 2023; Morrissey released a video statement regarding evidence and witnesses related to the case. In the recording, Morrissey refers to his message as "the first statement of its kind" in his dozen years as Norfolk District Attorney. [6]
References
- State House News Service , Wicked Local Burlington, January 1, 2011.
- "Member Profile – Michael W. Morrissey Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine." Massachusetts General Court.
- "Michael W. Morrissey." Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2007–2008). p. 64. Massachusetts General Court.
- "PD43+ » Candidate Profile..." PD43+. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- Reporter, Christian M. Wade | Statehouse (2023-08-28). "Proposal would allow recall of governor, other elected officials". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
- Klein, Asher; Logan • •, Erin (2023-08-25). "DA hits out at 'baseless' witness harassment around Karen Read case". NBC Boston. Retrieved 2024-01-22.