What Matthew Perry Can Teach Judges, Devaney Rejects Science and Law on Brain Development, Parties, and More!

Hi Everyone,

I was right in the middle of reading Matthew Perry’s powerful autobiography when I heard the terrible news that he had passed, far too soon. His vivid and painful description of addiction makes absolutely clear that people who suffer from a substance use disorder need support, not punishment. He struggled painfully and publicly for decades, spending half his life in treatment at a personal cost of $7 million. As a public defender, my clients can only dream of those resources. It isn’t fair to expect them to recover without adequate support, and it is unconscionable to punish them for relapse. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. People who relapse are taken into custody far too often, losing the jobs and homes they worked so hard to get, and breaking their ties with their families and their communities. We have got to change this.

I am thrilled to see that Senator Jamie Eldridge, Senator Cindy Friedman, and Rep. Ruth Balser are sponsoring legislation, "Treatment, Not Punishment" to prohibit probationers from being incarcerated due to relapse. But until that becomes our law, it will remain up to our judges. As your Governor's Councillor, I will make sure all nominees understand the science of addiction and will work to support recovery.

Speaking of science, incumbent Marilyn Devaney recently asked a Juvenile Court nominee if she believes the science of brain development, saying, “I can't believe they say the brain isn't developed until you're 25. That’s only from a book… I wish they'd rip that page out of a book.” She couldn’t be more wrong, not only on the science but on the law. The science of brain development is very well-established. The brain is not fully developed until the age of 25, and until that time we cannot expect youths and emerging adults to act the way we can and should expect grown adults to. The United States Supreme Court and our Supreme Judicial Court have long recognized the differences in youth brain development and individual culpability. As the Supreme Judicial Court recently held, "[T]he brain of a juvenile is not developed fully, either structurally or functionally, by the age of 18... Juveniles, therefore may possess 'diminished culpability'... and may be 'less deserving of the most severe punishments.'” Commonwealth v. Ng, 497 Mass. 247 (2023). I’m with the science and with the law. It is very troubling that a Governor’s Councillor would ask a Juvenile Court nominee if she would reject both the science and the law on brain development. See for yourself here. Enough.

I want to see you, and we have lots of opportunities coming up! Come join us!

Concord: November 30, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Boston: The Piano Factory, 791 Tremont St., December 1, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Lexington: Brookhaven, 1010 Waltham St., December 3, 2023, 1:30 p.m.
Stow, January 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Weston, January 14, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
Arlington, January 21, 2024, 4:00 p.m.

The Weston and Arlington host committees are in formation, so if you’d like to host, please drop me a note.

Recently, I happily joined the Greater Lowell Area Democrats, the Woburn Democrats, and the Hudson Democrats at each of their meetings to talk about this campaign and to ask for their support. The response was outstanding, and I thank them very much for the opportunities to meet with them!

As we celebrated Thanksgiving, my mother multitasked, making gravy while supporting my campaign! I am incredibly thankful for family, for all of you, and for all your support. I am also mindful that the end of the year is fast approaching. Please remember the 19,000 voters who went to the polls in this district last year but did not vote in the race for Governor’s Council. Just 1 out of 10 of those voters will put us over the top in 2024. We came so close we only need another 50 votes per town to win next year. Your contribution will go a long way in helping us to reach those voters, get those votes, and win!

Wishing you and yours a happy and peaceful holiday season, and peace on earth.

Take Care,

Mara