Projo Politics Blog

As the Senate prepares to return to the State House this afternoon to confirm a spate of new appointments, its members can expect to see a familiar face.

R. David Cruise, Senate President Joseph Montalbano's chief of staff, is still on the job -- despite having been confirmed by the Senate two months ago as magistrate of the Traffic Tribunal, in a special session similar to the one today.

A Senate spokesman confirmed this afternoon that Cruise is indeed still on the legislative payroll and has not yet been sworn in as a magistrate.

Why the delay?

Craig N. Berke, spokesman for the Judiciary, said Cruise is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in on September 4, along with Alan R. Goulart, the chief of the criminal division at the state attorney general's office.

"The Judiciary will be glad to get both new magistrates on board, as the Traffic Tribunal has been shorthanded for a couple of years and the work load for the existing judicial officers there has been great," Berke said in an email.

No word on what prompted the long wait.

Attorney General Spokesman Michael J. Healey could not say for sure today whether Goulart is still being paid as an employee of that division.

 Tags  Alan R. Goulart magistrate R. David Cruise Traffic Tribunal

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