Boston - On March 12, 2025, Governor Maura Healey announced the nomination of Robert Palumbo to serve as the Clerk Magistrate of the Barnstable County/Town of Plymouth Juvenile Court. Attorney Palumbo has worked for the Barnstable County/Town of Plymouth Juvenile Court since 2015 and was appointed as Acting Clerk Magistrate in 2023. He will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.

“Over the course of his career, Attorney Palumbo has taken a compassionate, respectful, and just approach to difficult cases involving youth and families of Barnstable County and Plymouth,” said Governor Maura Healey. “As Acting Clerk Magistrate, he has been integral to ensuring the smooth operations of the Juvenile Court, and we are excited to work with the Governor’s Council to see him officially assume the Clerk Magistrate position.”   

“During his time as Acting Clerk Magistrate, Attorney Palumbo has proven that he will always keep the interest of children at the forefront of his work, while handling difficult situations with calm, courtesy and respect,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are excited to see his continued work for the Juvenile Court and look forward to working toward his confirmation with the Governor’s Council.”

Attorney Palumbo began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County, where he spent seven years prosecuting cases in the District, Municipal and Superior Courts. He later spent seventeen years as an attorney for the Department of Children and Families, where he gained extensive experience handling cases involving children and families in both the Juvenile and Probate and Family Courts. He joined the Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office in 2015 as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate. In 2023, he was appointed to serve as Acting Clerk Magistrate. In this capacity he is responsible for managing the administration of the Clerk’s Office, as well as conducting show cause hearings, running court sessions and reviewing applications for complaints and search warrants. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. He resides in Pocasset.

“I am thankful to Governor Healey for recognizing my commitment to the mission of the Juvenile Court and giving me the opportunity to continue serving the community,” said Attorney Palumbo.

The mission of the Juvenile Court is to protect children from abuse and neglect, to promote opportunities for children to reside in safe, stable, permanent family environments, to strengthen families, to rehabilitate juveniles, and to protect the public from delinquent and criminal behavior. The Juvenile Court Department has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters including delinquencies, youthful offender cases, care and protection matters and children requiring assistance cases. It has 42 judges, including the Chief Justice, sitting in over 40 courthouses.

For more information about the Juvenile Court, visit its homepage. Governor Healey has previously nominated Jennifer Currie, Tiffanie Ellis-Niles, Andrew Hoffman, Audrey Murillo, Jeannie Rhinehart, Fabiola White, and Karin Wilinski to the Juvenile Court.