The Hon. W. Michael Goggins (Ret.) was first justice of the Northampton District Court in Massachusetts. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Paul Cellucci in 1999. Goggins retired in 2018.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1977. Goggins then completed a J.D. at Western New England College School of Law in 1982.
After law school, he joined the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney. He worked in that capacity until becoming first assistant district attorney there in 1993. Goggins remained with the District Attorney’s Office until assuming the District Court bench.
He also briefly practiced as a partner at Maguire & Goggins (1985 to 1986) and served as a member of the Northampton School Committee for four years (1989 to 1993).
His memberships included the Hampshire County Bar Association (president), the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Franklin County Bar Association.
Goggins was born in Pittsfield and grew up in Northampton, where his father worked at the state hospital. At the time of his retirement, Goggins still resided in Northampton.