Kimberly Karass Nominated As Next Nantucket District Court Clerk Magistrate

Governor Maura Healey announced Wednesday afternoon that Kimberly Karass has been nominated as the next clerk magistrate for the Nantucket District Court. The next step in the process is for the nomination to be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.

Karass is currently an assistant clerk magistrate at the Plymouth District Court, where she reviews applications for search and arrest warrants, presides over small claims trials, and conducts show-cause and civil motor vehicle infraction hearings. She previously served as an assistant clerk magistrate at the Brockton District Court and has been designated to assist in the Falmouth, Wareham, and Nantucket District Courts.

Prior to joining the Brockton District Court, Karass served as a law clerk for the Supreme Judicial Court for 15 years and worked as a civil litigator at a small law firm in Boston where her practice focused on insurance defense and employment law.

Karass holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rhode Island and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

The clerk magistrate position became open following the retirement of Don Hart in July, who served in the position for 12 years and is an island resident. Brian Kearney has been serving as the clerk magistrate since Hart’s retirement on an interim basis.

Clerk magistrates preside over preliminary hearings in the District Court, notably clerk magistrate hearings. Their primary role is to determine if there is sufficient probable cause to issue a criminal complaint against an individual and whether the case should proceed to arraignment.