A prominent Hampshire County attorney and longtime assistant district attorney with the Northwestern district attorney’s office has been selected to serve as a judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Springfield.
Elizabeth D. Katz, of Northampton, will be appointed to the bench early next year, pending FBI clearance, according to a press release from Circuit Executive Susan J. Goldberg’s office.
Katz will replace Judge Henry J. Boroff, who retired in July after 23 years in the position.
In addition to serving as a local assistant district attorney for 12 years from 1995-2007, Katz served as the chief of the Hampshire County and Franklin County district courts from 2000-2007. She was also president of the Hampshire County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014 and is currently a member of its executive committee.
Katz, currently a partner at Rescia, Katz & Shear in Enfield, Conneticut, said Thursday she will leave her practice for the 14-year appointment as judge.
“I’m honored that I was appointed to this position and I’m excited about this new chapter in my life,” she said.
Katz has practiced law in the area for more than two decades. Most recently, she has focused on consumer, business and bankruptcy matters, as well as criminal defense.
She received her law degree from Boston University School of Law, according to the release.
“Attorney Katz’s legal experience and talent will greatly benefit the District of Massachusetts and the community of Springfield,” Chief Judge Jeffrey R. Howard said in the release.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.