The 2 nominees for clerk magistrate would each receive $110,000 a year for life.
Greenfield District Court, left, and Northampton District Court, right.BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick today nominated two people for $110,000-a-year, lifetime clerk magistrate's jobs in Western Massachusetts.
Patrick nominated Kenneth H. Chaffee of Colrain to be clerk magistrate in Greenfield District Court and Darren Alston to be clerk-magistrate in Northampton District Court.
Alston, a graduate of Greenfield Community College and Fitchburg State College, is currently acting clerk magistrate in Greenfield District Court. He also attends the private Massachusetts School of Law in Andover. Alston started as a procedures clerk in Orange District Court in 1993 and worked his way up to become acting clerk magistrate at Orange District in 1999.
Chaffee, a lawyer with a solo legal practice in Shelburne, is a former assistant district attorney in the Northwestern District Attorney's office for nearly three years until 1990. He's had his solo legal practice since 1990.
Chaffee obtained his bachelor's degree from Western New England College in Springfield in 1984 and his law degree from the same college's law school in 1987.
The nominations will go to the Govenor's Council for votes on whether to confirm them. The council will interview Chaffee on June 8 and Alston on June 15.
Patrick said he was proud to announce the nominations. Clerk magistrates have no mandatory retirement age, unlike judges, who must retire at 70.
“These nominees have the experience, leadership skills and demeanor to be excellent district court clerk magistrates,” Patrick said in a statement.