Lynn judge receives Judicial Excellence Award

LYNN – Judge Michael F. Edgerton, associate justice at Lynn Juvenile Court, received the 2007 Judicial Excellence Award from the Massachusetts Judges Conference on March 11.The awards are annually presented to judges in recognition of their commitment to the judiciary, leadership in the community and devotion to the rule of law. Judges are nominated for the Judicial Excellence Award by their peers. The Massachusetts Judges Conference board of directors selects winners in six categories.Edgerton, who was appointed a judge by then-Gov. William Weld in 1996, has been at Lynn Juvenile Court since that time. He sits in Lynn four days a week and in Lawrence one day. Essex Juvenile Court has sessions in Lynn, Salem, Lawrence and Newburyport.Prior to becoming a judge, Edgerton served as general counsel for the Trial Court of Massachusetts for 17 years, working under three chief justices.Edgerton said while those who appear before him are under age 17, that does not mean all the crimes they are charged with are minor. “There are many serious crimes, too,” he said, noting he was in the middle of a jury trial of a defendant charged with rape and armed assault.”We have the exact same application of criminal law as the district court,” he added. “We deal with the same crimes as the district and superior court, except for murder.”A native of North Adams, Edgerton graduated from St. Michael’s College and Suffolk University School of Law. He lives in Danvers.”I love my job,” he said. “You never know what you’re going to come in to, day after day. It’s very challenging.”