BOSTON, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ -– Governor Patrick today announced the nomination of Kimberly S. Budd, an experienced criminal and civil practitioner, to the Superior Court. “Budd’s range of legal experience and her demonstrated compassion, judgment and humanity will serve her well on the bench,” Governor Patrick said. “Beyond her proven legal skills and excellent reputation, Budd is deeply committed to protecting the rights and liberties of the citizens of the Commonwealth and has throughout her career given back to her community and the bar.”

Kimberly Budd currently serves as the Director of the Community Values Program at Harvard Business School. She began her legal career as a clerk to then-Chief Joseph P. Warner of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. She then practiced as a trial lawyer in the litigation department of Mintz Levin. Budd also spent several years as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston, where she served in the Major Crimes Unit and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

She later joined the Office of the General Counsel for Harvard University where she handled a wide variety of civil matters. Budd recently served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Public Integrity. The Task Force’s recent report served as the basis for landmark ethics and lobbying reform that was signed into law last week.

Budd is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Law School and a resident of Newton. She is slated to fill the vacancy on the Superior Court created by the elevation of the Honorable Ralph D. Gants.