Council Confirms Two New District Court Judges
The Governor's Council unanimously approved Michael Callanan and Kristen Varsames Tysonis for seats on the Massachusetts District Court.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Criminal Justice
The Governor's Council confirmed Michael Callanan and Kristen Varsames Tysonis as District Court judges on Nov. 4, voting 8-0 on each nominee. The council's eight members, all Democrats, will return unchanged next term after winning or running unopposed in the Nov. 3 election.
Why it matters
The confirmations fill two District Court seats in Massachusetts, the state's busiest trial court for criminal and civil matters. Callanan brings a background in criminal defense and Tysonis in public defense, reflecting a mix of defense-side experience on the bench.
Both nominees were confirmed unanimously by the eight-member Governor's Council, 8-0 on each vote. Callanan has tried more than 100 cases to verdict in an 18-year Dedham criminal defense practice, and Tysonis has more than eight years of service as a Middlesex bar advocate.
The players
Governor's Council
The eight-member elected body that reviews and confirms judicial nominations in Massachusetts.
Michael Callanan
A Dedham criminal defense lawyer confirmed as a District Court judge after 18 years in private practice.
Kristen Varsames Tysonis
A public defender in Lowell confirmed as a District Court judge, with prior service as a Middlesex bar advocate.
The details
Callanan is a Dedham criminal defense lawyer who ran a solo practice for 18 years and previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Norfolk County. Tysonis is a trial attorney in the Lowell Public Defender's Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, having joined the agency in April 2026, and received the Commonwealth Heroine Award in 2025.
Timeline
September: Four councilors beat back Democratic primary challengers.
April 2026: Tysonis joined the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
Nov. 3: Council general election; incumbents defeated challengers or ran unopposed.
Nov. 4: Governor's Council confirmed the two District Court judges.
Legal Context
Massachusetts District Courts handle the bulk of the state's criminal and civil trial cases, and the Governor's Council's confirmation votes determine who fills those benches. The unanimous 8-0 approvals continue a pattern in which the all-Democrat council confirms judicial nominees with broad support.
Residents with cases in Massachusetts District Court will see two newly confirmed judges join the bench, both with criminal defense backgrounds. The change affects who presides over misdemeanor, criminal and civil matters in the courts where these judges are assigned.
The takeaway
Judicial confirmations shape the courts residents rely on, and the Governor's Council's votes offer a clear record of who has been placed on the bench. Readers can follow future council actions to see how the composition of Massachusetts courts changes.
Further reading
For more on how the state's courts operate, see Criminal Justice coverage in Massachusetts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
