Boston - On October 30, 2024, Governor Maura Healey nominated Cara Krysil to the District Court. The nominee will now continue forward to the Governor’s Council for confirmation. 

“I’m glad to be nominating another incredibly qualified attorney to our District Court,” said Governor Maura Healey. "Cara’s understanding of the law and her passion for justice will make her a great addition to our Court system, and I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council to confirm her nomination.”

“We thank the Governor’s Council for their consideration of this nominee to serve on our District Court. Cara’s strong career as an attorney will serve Massachusetts well,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. 

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.

For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage. Governor Healey has already nominated 12 attorneys to the District Court: Stuart Hurowitz, Polly Phillips, Heath Antonio, Leo Fama, Francis V. Kenneally, Courtney C. Linnehan, Marjorie P. Tynes, Sarah Kennedy, Edward Krippendorf, Frederick DeCubellis, Gregory Teran and Amanda Ward.

About Cara Krysil

Cara Krysil Tirella began her legal career in 2001 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the District Court until 2004 where she was the supervisor in the Waltham, Marlborough, and Woburn District Courts. In 2004, she began to prosecute cases in the Superior Court and became the Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division. From 2006-2011, Attorney Krysil prosecuted major felony cases including homicides, sexual assaults and gang-related offenses. She was appointed to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney from 2007-2011, where she handled cases in the United States District Court of the District of Massachusetts. In 2012, Attorney Krysil became the Chief of the Lowell Regional Superior Court. In 2013, she joined the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office where she served as the Chief of the Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, overseeing complex criminal cases. She currently serves as Division Counsel for the New England Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration at the Department of Justice where she is the principal legal advisor to Division personnel on all aspects of DEA operations, covering criminal, civil and administrative law. Attorney Krysil earned a Bachelor of Arts from Assumption College and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law. She lives in Chelmsford, MA with her family.