Polito Visits Haverhill to Mark District Court ‘Law Day’

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito attended the Haverhill Bar Association's Law Day on Friday, May 10, 2019 at Haverhill District Court. (WHAV News photograph)

Free speech, free press and a free society were the themes of the day Friday when the Haverhill Bar Association marked 2019’s Law Day event at Haverhill District Court at a ceremony attended by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

Joining Polito at the newly renovated Ginty Boulevard courthouse was the city’s legislative delegation, Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro, Deputy Chief Anthony Haugh and Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger, along with Assistant District Attorneys John DePaulo and Thomas Sholds from District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett’s office, among others.

Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini said being back on the courtroom floor brought back memories from his days practicing law before running for Haverhill City Council in 1995. In his remarks, Fiorentini paid tribute to Haverhill’s current First Justice Stephen S. Abany and others who presided over the Law Day event for maintaining justice in the city’s current climate.

“Law has always been my first love. I want to thank those of you responsible for keeping us safe: The real heroes—the free and independent judiciary—who keep our freedoms in tact. All the freedoms in the world don’t mean anything unless you don’t have a free and independent judiciary and lawyers like those sitting here who are able to defend those rights.”

Also during Friday’s event, the Haverhill Bar Association presented the Liberty Bell Award to Haverhill High School teacher Robert Pike, who directs the school’s moot court program. Prior to accepting his award, Pike joined guests in witnessing HHS moot court members and seniors Alex Papanikolaou and A.J. Tamburino argue the matter of Gamble vs. United States before Judges Abany, Patricia Dowling and Robert Brennan.

Haverhill District Court Clerk Magistrate Doris A. Stanziani was presented with the Moody Award.

As part of Polito’s appearance, she touted Haverhill’s three-week-old drug court, an undertaking Fiorentini calls a “tremendous asset” to the city that had 514 overdose calls in the last two years. According to the mayor, 53 deaths resulted from those calls.

“The drug court is going to be a tremendous asset to us. It’s going to give young people heading down the wrong path an opportunity to head down the right path,” Fiorentini said.

In the 18-month program, participants receive guidance and assistance from the Haverhill District Court—overseen by Abany—and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, while taking part in weekly drug screenings, probation and court sessions.

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