Judge Douglas J. Darnbrough: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Douglas J. Darnbrough (Ret.) is the former First Justice of the New Bedford District Court in Massachusetts. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Charlie Baker on June 22, 2016. Darnbrough resigned on November 10, 2023.

Darnbrough began his judicial career as an associate justice for the New Bedford District Court. He was subsequently named First Justice on January 14, 2019, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Bernadette Sabra.

Prior to his appointment, Darnbrough sat as an assistant clerk-magistrate (2013 to 2015) and first assistant clerk-magistrate (2015 to 2016) for the Taunton District Court. Before that, he operated his own general law practice in Fall River. He handled criminal and civil litigation matters, specializing in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.

Darnbrough earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant College in 1988. He spent the next several years working as an insurance claims investigator for Norfield Associates and the General Accident Insurance Company before completing a J.D. at Southern New England School of Law in 1994.

His memberships have included the American Bar Association, the American Society of Legal Advocates, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Rhode Island Bar Association. He also sat on the Board of Directors of the Bristol County Bar Advocate Program.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Darnbrough was a resident of Rehoboth at the time of his appointment. He is a member of the Episcopal Church of Swansea, and he is actively involved with the Rehoboth Youth Baseball and Softball Association.