Rayburn — nominated as an associate District Court judge — has a nearly perfect record prosecuting murder trials as well as a conviction in the Michelle Carter suicide texting case, her office said.
NEW BEDFORD — Katie Cook Rayburn — nominated as an associate District Court judge — has a nearly perfect record prosecuting murder trials as well as a conviction in the Michelle Carter suicide texting case, her office said.
Rayburn, 43, has tried 14 murder trials as a prosecutor in Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III’s office and won 13 of them, said Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the office.
In addition to winning an involuntary manslaughter conviction in Carter’s case, she also won a first-degree murder conviction for the brutal 2013 slaying of Joyce N. Howland, a 69-year-old retired Fairhaven teacher, who was killed in her Hamlet Street home. Rayburn also tried manslaughter and serious felonies — domestic violence and child abuse cases.
Her nomination could be the continuation of a trend. She is the third person with SouthCoast ties to receive a judicial appointment from Gov. Charlie Baker in the last nine months.
Bristol County prosecutor Daniel J. Hourihan was nominated in November 2016 to be a judge in New Bedford District Court and Appeals Court Justice Elspeth “Ellie” Cypher of Freetown, a former member of the Bristol County DA’s office from 1988 to 2000, was nominated to the state Supreme Judicial Court. Both appointments were confirmed by the Governor’s Council.
“She is one of the best trial lawyers I have ever seen and has a nearly unblemished record when it comes to solving homicides and prosecuting murder trials,” Miliote said in a statement. “Her intellect, skill and knowledge of the law makes her a fantastic candidate for the bench.”
Rayburn’s boss has an equally high opinion of her skills. “I’m very happy to hear that ADA Katie Rayburn has been nominated for a district court judgeship. Katie has worked tirelessly and effectively for victims in Bristol County for nearly a decade,” Quinn said.
Quinn said he has assigned Rayburn to some of “the toughest and most high profile cases” in his office. “Through great effort, determination and skill, she has successfully prosecuted a number of very important cases for our office and the people of Bristol County,” he said.
According to a spokeswoman for the Governor’s office, Rayburn has been nominated for a circuit appointment. As such, circuit judges do not replace a specific retired district court judge or seat, but are appointed and assigned based on the need and discretion of the court’s chief justice.
Rayburn, the deputy chief of the DA’s homicide unit, said through Miliote that she cannot make any public statements about her nomination.
The Governor’s Council will set a date for her hearing at its Sept. 6 meeting, according to Sonia Altamirano, administrative assistant.
Councilor Joseph C. Ferreira, who represents District 1 which includes Bristol County, said he looks forward to sitting down with Rayburn to assess her capabilities. He said judicial temperament is important to him.
“I want all people who interact with the judiciary to be respected,” Ferreira said. “There is no room for judges to be arrogant or condescending.”
Ferreira said “his guess” is that Rayburn’s appointment will be approved by the Governor’s Council.
Rayburn lives on the South Shore and was hired by former Bristol County DA C. Samuel Sutter in 2008, after working as a private defense attorney and a prosecutor in Plymouth Council. She served as the chief of the domestic violence unit under Sutter before appointed deputy chief of the homicide unit by Quinn.