The Honorable Patricia A. Dowling

The Hon. Patricia A. Dowling (Ret.) served as an associate justice for the Massachusetts District Court. Dowling was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jane Swift in 2001. She retired in December 2020.

Over the course of her judicial career, Dowling has held assignments in the Ipswich District Court and the Haverhill District Court.

Dowling earned a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in 1979. She then completed a J.D. at Suffolk University Law School in 1983.

After graduating from law school, Dowling began her legal career as an assistant district attorney for the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. She worked in that capacity until 1989, at which time she entered into private practice as a sole practitioner in Lawrence. During her tenure in private practice, Dowling also sat as an assistant city attorney for the City of Lawrence Law Department (1989 to 1993).

In 1997, Dowling closed her legal practice when she was elected Mayor of the City of Lawrence. She held this position until her appointment to the Massachusetts District Court.

Dowling was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She sat as a member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council from 1995 to 2001.

She is registered as a Democrat.