Governor Nominates Two to District Court

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BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey nominated Sarah Kennedy and Edward Krippendorf to the District Court. 
 
The nominees will now continue forward to the Governor's Council for confirmation.  
 
"Sarah and Edward are two distinguished attorneys who will make excellent additions to the District Court," said Governor Healey. "They have dedicated their careers to the law and I look forward to working with the Governor's Council to confirm their nominations." 
 
The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties, all misdemeanors, and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. In civil matters, the District Court hears cases in which the damages are not likely to be more than $50,000 and small claims cases up to $7,000. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the state. 
 
About Sarah Kennedy 
Sarah Kennedy currently serves as an Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court, a position she has held since 2021. Attorney Kennedy is responsible for conducting hearings for criminal complaints, assisting judges with courtroom sessions, and helping staff, litigants and members of the public with navigating the court system. Prior to that, she served as both a prosecutor for the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and a defense attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services. She has a bachelor's from Boston College and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and she lives in Waltham with her wife and children. 
 
 
About Edward (Ed) Krippendorf, Jr.
Ed Krippendorf is an accomplished and well-respected trial attorney with broad civil and criminal experience. Attorney Krippendorf began his career as a criminal investigator in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office before attending New England School of Law. After graduating cum laude, Attorney Krippendorf worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County for eight years, prosecuting cases in District, Boston Municipal, and Superior Courts. For the last three years in the DA's Office, he tried complicated Superior Court cases while assigned to the Senior Trial and Homicide Units. Attorney Krippendorf now serves as a partner at Eisenstadt Krippendorf Group in Westwood, MA representing private and indigent criminal defendants as well as handling a broad array of civil and administrative matters in a variety of courts. He also volunteers as a Court Conciliator for the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court. He has a B.S. from Salem State College and a J.D. from New England School of Law. He lives in Braintree with his wife and children. 
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Pittsfield Firefighters Knock Down Morningside Blaze

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Fire Department knocked down a two-alarm blaze in the Morningside neighborhood in less than an hour on Friday. 

Just before 3 p.m., the department received a report of a fire at 25 Pine St. Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Garner said he arrived at the scene first and saw heavy fire showing from the rear of the more than 100-year-old home. 

"We just went to work, pretty much," he explained. 

"Because of the heavy volume of fire and the potential for a high number of occupants, I called a double alarm, which called all available Pittsfield firefighters directly to the scene. And I would say the fire was knocked down and under control within an hour." 

Eight occupants were evacuating the home when firefighters arrived, and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. People, including the occupants, stood on the sidewalk and watched the scene unfold. 

When iBerkshires arrived, firefighters were on the ladder, extinguishing the top level of the home from the side and rear.  

There were five fire engines and one ladder truck. Hinsdale also came to assist, and Lenox and Dalton were called for standby. 

Garner believes the building is salvageable and repairable, but recognized that the family won't be able to stay there tonight. An extended family appears to live in the home. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined; the Fire Investigation Division was on site. The Red Cross will provide assistance to the residents of the home. 

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