Superior Court Judge Cathleen Campbell WF ’86

Superior Court Judge Cathleen Campbell grew up in Allston and attended Boston Latin School. While there, she participated in the Ward Fellowship at the Suffolk County Jail. Although she admits it was not exactly how she anticipated spending her summer, it provided her valuable insight into what life as an attorney was like. Judge Campbell attended Northeastern University for both her undergraduate and graduate education. After graduating, Judge Campbell was retained by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department before leaving to work in the district attorney’s office, following up on a promise she had made to her father before he had tragically passed away. Judge Campbell practiced for over a decade before going into private practice with a few other attorneys while also working in conjunction with CPCS as a private contractor on their cases. This helped Judge Campbell grow her law firm while still being able to support her two young children. About a decade ago, Judge Campbell applied to become a District Court Judge under Governor Deval Patrick, and beat out hundreds of other candidates in a grueling interview process. After serving on the District Court for 9 years, Judge Campbell was moved to the Superior Court by Governor Charlie Baker, where she has been for the last 2 years. Judge Campbell stands out as one of the most energetic and outgoing people you’ll ever meet. Outside of being a judge, Judge Campbell travels across the world running marathons, hoping to one day have run all of the big six marathons. Her commitment to running and her willingness to put in maximum effort is replicated in everything she does. There is a stereotype of judges that many people buy into, which portrays them as emotionless stone figures that will show off their power whenever they can. However, Judge Campbell is a glowing example of how a judge should conduct themselves both in and out of the courtroom. The sacrifices Judge Campbell has made for her family and even for others she barely knows, shows a level of empathy, maturity, and compassion which is nearly impossible to match. Her love for the law and commitment to giving everyone a fair trial is a shining example for everyone else around her to follow.