Tara Jacobs seeks second term on Governor’s Council

ATHOL – In her reelection bid for her District 8 Governor’s Council seat, Tara Jacobs points to efforts to diversify the judiciary, fill court vacancies and increase public trust in the courts during her time in office.

Now serving her second term on the council, Jacobs said she hopes to continue the work that she sees as meaningful and rewarding, and because she has already seen the impact it can have.

“I saw Governor’s Council as an opportunity to be at a table where decisions are made that literally impact individuals and communities and the entire state,” said Jacobs, who will face off against Springfield attorney Michael Fenton in the Sept. 1 primary.

She said she was motivated by a desire to address systemic injustices and bias within the court system while advocating for western Massachusetts communities.

District 8 covers Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties, as well as several communities in the North Quabbin region. The Governor’s Council serves as a constitutional check on the executive branch and confirms judicial appointments, parole board members and other statewide positions, while also reviewing pardons and commutations.

Jacobs noted that the council has confirmed well over 100 judges in the past three and a half years, representing roughly a quarter of the state’s judiciary.

“I’ve been very proud to be able to be a part of confirming across the state, not just in Western Mass, but in Western Mass, so many people who were firsts, who were the first time different communities have ever seen a member of their community sitting as a judge in a court,” Jacobs said.”

Jacobs said filling vacancies has been particularly important for western Mass, where courts have historically struggled to fill judicial vacancies. She added that for the first time in many years that there are no vacancies at the Superior Court.

She said the Western Massachusetts Superior Court circuit previously had five open sessions, which affected access to justice and its efficiency and speed. She said she is proud not only that those positions were filled, but also of the judges who now serve in them. Jacobs said residents have told her they appreciate judges who are fair and make people feel respected, seen and heard, even when they do not receive the outcome they were hoping for.

She also highlighted an official Governor’s Council confirmation hearing held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which she said marked the first time the council formally held a hearing in western Mass. The event allowed community members and students to observe the confirmation process firsthand and interact directly with council members.

“I do as much as I do to try to bring awareness and help educate people and engage them in the process,” Jacobs said.

She said she spends a lot of time speaking with people who interact with the court system, including people facing foreclosure or eviction, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and families affected by Section 35 cases, which deal with substance use disorder. Jacobs said those conversations help inform the questions she asks judicial nominees and provide insight into residents’ experiences with the court system.

“We talk about gender bias and racial bias and LGBTQ bias, as well as mental health and substance abuse,” she said.

Jacobs said she also looks for qualities such as intelligence, curiosity, ethics and temperament when evaluating judicial nominees.

“I’m looking for people who are kind, who are patient, who are empathetic, who are compassionate,” she said.

Looking ahead, Jacobs said that if reelected, her priorities would include advocating for western Mass, minimizing court vacancies and encouraging qualified candidates to seek judicial appointments.

“It’s totally corny, but be the change you wanna see,” Jacobs said. “I’m seeing the changes that I want to see happening, and that’s kind of an amazing thing.”