Crime & Safety

Gov. Deval Patrick Appoints New Middlesex County District Attorney

Michael Pelgro has been serving as acting district attorney in Middlesex County.

Governor Deval Patrick announced this afternoon he has appointed Marian T. Ryan as Middlesex County District Attorney (DA), according to a press release issued by Patrick's office. 

Ryan, who currently serves as the Middlesex DA's general counsel, will assume the responsibilities for the Middlesex County DA's Office as DA Gerald Leone recently stepped down from his post to join a private law firm. 

A 30-year veteran of the Middlesex County DA's office, Ryan has served as general counsel and chief of the office's elder and disabled unit, the press release said. She has tried hundreds of cases in both district and superior courts and argued more than 40 cases in the Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court.

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“Marian brings a great wealth of experience as a prosecutor generally and in the Middlesex County DA's office in particular,” Patrick said in a statement. “I am confident she brings the rigor, tenacity, integrity and compassion to take an already strong team to even greater heights.”

In addition to her work in the DA's office, Ryan has also taught as an adjunct professor at Emmanuel College and Wentworth College. She currently teaches at Lasell College in Newton, according to the press release.

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Ryan, a Belmont resident, is a graduate of Emmanuel College and Boston College Law School. 

“I am humbled by the responsibility which the governor has entrusted to me,” Ryan said in a statement. “I am thrilled to be leading the office where I have spent my entire professional career and I look forward to continuing its long tradition of excellence.”

Ryan is replacing acting DA Michael Pelgro, who was appointed earlier this month following Leone's departure. 

Leone announced in January he would not seek a third term as DA and a couple of months later announced he would be leaving the post early to join the law firm of Nixon Peabody.

An election to select the next Middlesex DA will be held in 2014.


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