The Hon. John P. McKenna is an associate justice for the Westfield District Court in Massachusetts. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Charlie Baker on June 6, 2018.
McKenna earned a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College. He spent the next several years working as a claims representative for Traveler’s Insurance Co. before completing a J.D. at New England School of Law.
After graduating from law school, McKenna began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office in 1995. He served in that capacity until 2000, at which time he became Congressional Counsel for Representative Richard E. Neal of the United States House of Representatives.
McKenna opened his own private practice in 2005. He represented clients in criminal defense, immigration, and civil litigation matters until his appointment to the bench. During this time, McKenna also served as a Bar Advocate attorney for Hampden County Bar Advocates and Hampshire County Bar Advocates.
His memberships have included the Bench Bar Committee for the Eastern Hampshire County District Court (chair) and the Board of Directors of the Springfield Capitals Hockey Association, Partnership for Healthier Community (Baystate Health Systems), and the Vietnamese American Civic Association.
McKenna was a resident of Longmeadow at the time of his appointment.