Norfolk County District Attorney Morrissey won’t seek re-election; here’s why and who is running to replace him

BY COLIN A. YOUNG

Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, a veteran of state politics who came under scrutiny for his office’s handling of recent high-profile cases, announced Monday that he will not run for reelection this year.

Boston 25 reported that Morrissey said he was ready to “start a new chapter” outside of elected office. The Quincy Democrat was last elected in 2022 and had not faced an opponent since he was first elected in 2010. Morrissey served in the state House and Senate from 1977 until 2011 before taking on the DA’s job. 

“Being District Attorney is about pursuing justice with integrity and fairness. I am incredibly proud of the meaningful work our office has accomplished, both in the courtroom and throughout the community,” Morrissey said in a statement to Boston 25, the outlet reported.

Morrissey faced public pressure and scrutiny over the two Karen Read murder trials, the first of which ended in a mistrial followed by her acquittal last year. During the trials, the conduct of State Police troopers assigned to Morrissey’s office attracted widespread condemnation, including from Gov. Maura Healey. His office has also been criticized for having ruled the death of 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore a suicide — federal prosecutors have since charged a one-time Stoughton police officer with her murder.

Djuna Perkins, a lawyer and former prosecutor who announced she would be running in this year’s Norfolk DA election back in September 2024, said Morrissey made the right decision.

“Now, residents of Norfolk County have the opportunity to elect a qualified District Attorney committed to the pursuit of justice — free from bias, conflict, and political entanglements,” she said.

Three others have waded into the race: Adam Deitch, a former federal prosecutor who worked on a probe of the Norfolk County prosecutors in the Read case; Cohasset School Committee member Craig MacLellan, also a former prosecutor; and defense attorney Jim Barakat.