STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Peter Coyne, a 10-year assistant clerk magistrate in the Suffolk County Juvenile Court, as well as the brother of a prominent Beacon Hill lobbyist, rejected assertions by members of the Governor’s Council on Wednesday that his nomination to a juvenile court judgeship was based on his connections and his brother’s frequent political donations.

“I do not think whatever contributions made to any candidate or to any candidate’s reelection committee have any influence at all on my being here,” said Coyne, who was nominated by Gov. Deval Patrick last week to a seat on the Suffolk County Juvenile Court, during a hearing on his nomination. “I’m here because I’m qualified to be here.”

“Every applicant should be taken on their own merits,” he added later. For an in-depth look at clerks and their perks, check out this article from CommonWealth.

Coyne, 55, said he was appointed assistant clerk magistrate in 2001 by then-clerk Jack Bulger, brother of former Senate President William Bulger and James “Whitey” Bulger. Coyne’s brother William is a Beacon Hill lobbyist whose clients include Exxon Mobil, Kraft Foods Global, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, MillerCoors, Raytheon, and Verizon Communications, according to 2011 disclosure filings. His other brother, Michael, is a Boston Municipal Court Judge.

Councilor Charles Cipollini pointed out that William Coyne has made more than $100,000 in contributions to constitutional officers and state-level candidates, as well as $28,000 in contributions to congressional candidates.

“I think that puts the scale a little bit in your favor,” Cipollini said.

“I don’t believe that at all,” Peter Coyne responded. “Whatever contributions my brother makes are limited by the law. As far as I know, everything that he does in terms of contributions is in compliance with the law.”

Coyne acknowledged making more than $6,400 in his own political contributions to candidates, including Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Sen. Jack Hart of South Boston, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, and others.

“I participate in the political process,” he said, defending questions by Cipollini about the propriety of his contributions. “I participate by voting. I participate by making campaign contributions to reelection campaigns. I have given money to people I think are good public servants.”

Cipollini wondered why he had never contributed to Gov. Patrick.

“I haven’t given any money to Governor Patrick, for one reason, because from the beginning I wasn’t a supporter of Gov. Patrick, to be frank about it,” he said. “Earlier on when the governor was running in his first campaign, I was a supporter of [then-Attorney General] Tom Reilly.”

Coyne, a UMass Amherst political science graduate with a law degree from Suffolk University Law School and a master’s degree from a Northeastern University law, policy and society program, acknowledged that after graduating law school in 1983, he failed the bar exam repeatedly until “finally” passing in 1993. He has worked as an assistant clerk magistrate in Suffolk County Juvenile Court since 2001. Prior to that appointment, Coyne said he ran a trial practice for five-and-a-half years in which he worked “almost exclusively” in the Suffolk juvenile court.

“I know I can make a difference there,” he said. “It’s a very difficult and challenging job. I know that I can be an effective jurist and make a positive difference in the lives of the families that come before the court.”

Coyne noted that from 1993 to 1995 he worked as a lobbyist with his brother. “Part of my job,” he said, “might be to attend a meeting with legislators to try to either provide them with information on a particular bill that was pending or a particular piece of business that was in the office or to do some kind of research.”

Councilor Marilyn Devaney, noting that Coyne’s nomination came after his 11th application for a judicial position, said he shouldn’t be penalized for his brother’s contributions.

“I don’t know who my sisters give to,” she said, adding that if his nomination was a result of his political connections, “What happened all these 10 times with all his political influence? That is not my consideration.”

“I’m glad you persevered,” she added later, noting that she intends to vote for him next week.

Councilor Mary-Ellen Manning said she was “teetering” on the edge of voting against Coyne’s nomination. Although she admitted initially believing Coyne was up for a clerk magistrate position, Manning said, “I’m having a lot less difficulty saying no to you for a judgeship.”

Manning said she believed Coyne got his job as an assistant clerk magistrate “initially because of political connections.” “I want you to tell me why I should risk my vote on you because I’m really struggling on your nomination,” she said.

Coyne said he “vehemently” disagreed with Manning’s suggestion that he got his current job through political connections. He also said that he believes he has the qualities to be a good judge.

“The knowledge of the law that I have exceeds most practitioners,” he said, “and if I don’t know what the law is, I know how to find the answer.”

Manning also wondered whether she should consider the fact that one of Coyne’s brothers is already a judge.

“I think it’s dangerous to have a number of people from the same family appointed for judgeships,” she said.

Coyne replied that Manning erroneously assumed that all family members are like-minded and would essentially work together to “plan” their ascension to judgeships.

“I’ll be responsible for my own actions,” he said, adding, “Within a family, some people might be interested in the same line of work.”

Coyne said he would apply “a great deal of thought” to any case that involved the sentencing of a youthful offender. He added that he considers public safety a primary consideration when he makes sentencing decisions, as well as ensuring “everyone’s rights are guaranteed.”

Coyne told councilors that as a practicing lawyer, he worked on about 10 to 20 criminal trials and about 40 civil trials. He said he has learned a lot about criminal procedure, in particular, during his tenure as a clerk magistrate. After Councilor Jennie Caissie suggested that he appeared to have a “light” body of legal experience, Coyne described a day in court in which he was required to set bail for an accused drive-by shooter and was stared down by apparent gang members.

Describing a court system that is “severely understaffed,” Terry Craven, first justice of the Suffolk County Juvenile Court, urged the council to support Coyne’s nomination.

“He is the most qualified and the best person for the job,” Craven said, noting that she had received calls about four applicants for the job.

Craven said her court’s six judges see 10,000 cases per year in four locations throughout Suffolk County. The court, she said, hears cases on delinquency, care and protection of children, youthful offenders and children in need of services.

“That atmosphere,” she said, “is stressful and overwhelming.”

In response to questioning by Councilor Mary-Ellen Manning, Craven acknowledged that Coyne was first appointed as an assistant clerk magistrate by Jack Bulger, a fact Craven admitted could be a “lightning rod.” “Mr. Bulger and I didn’t see eye to eye,” Craven said, but added that for Bulger’s decision to hire Coyne, “I will actually tip my hat to him, and that has never happened.”

Coyne’s nomination also drew support from Suffolk County Juvenile Court’s clerk magistrate Donna Ciampoli, who said that Coyne was well-positioned to handle the often “gut-wrenching” cases – from rapes to “horrific” child abuse – that come before the court.

Also speaking on Coyne’s behalf were Lauren Monterio, the operations supervisor of the Suffolk Juvenile Court; Lee Cameron, a Boston Police officer; Richard Squillante, a teacher in the Boston Public Schools; and William Cuttle, a lawyer from Swampscott.

Witnesses described Craven as a well-respected, willing to work long hours and calm amid the often hectic environment of the juvenile court.

Lee Cameron, a patrolman assigned to the Suffolk juvenile court, said he considers Coyne “like a brother.”

“He would be there for me if I need him,” he said.

Councilors Christopher Iannella, Thomas Merrigan and Kelly Timilty were absent for the hearing on Coyne’s nomination, as well as an earlier hearing on the nomination of Claudia Abreau as clerk magistrate of Taunton District Court. A vote on Coyne’s nomination could come as early as next week.