Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey has faced tremendous scrutiny over the handling of the Karen Read and Sandra Birchmore cases. Now he's already facing political challengers because of them.
Dedham-based lawyer Djuna Perkins announced this week that she's planning to run against DA Morrissey in the next Democratic Primary in September 2026. Perkins tells WBZ NewsRadio she decided to run because of how the DA handled them.
"What I have seen and many other observers have commented on is a really troubling pattern of missteps in the DA's office," Perkins said. "I think what really gets lost especially in those two cases is that two lives were lost, and that means two families have been waiting for closure and it doesn't seem like they're going to get it anytime soon."
Perkins has over 30 years of legal experience spending time working as an Assistant Attorney General and an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County. If elected she said for a time she would send an ADA to every unattended death scene, as opposed to the current policy which only requires an ADA to be sent to murder scenes.
"I think voters are smart and they demand excellence," Perkins said. "I think what they realize now is that what's going on now is not excellence."
Perkins is just one of the two candidates that have emerged as challengers for DA Morrisey in 2026. Cohasset lawyer Craig MacLellan also filed to run as a challenger for the Democratic nomination against DA Morrisey. MacLellan has over 20 years of legal experience and has previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County among other public and private roles.
Read More: Norfolk D.A. Taps Defense Attorney Hank Brennan To Lead Karen Read Retrial
DA Morrisey has not yet said if he plans to seek re-election in 2026. The Morrisey Committee Treasurer told WBZ NewsRadio in a phone interview that the DA is happy in his job but it is far too early to know about his plans to run again.
When asked about taking on a possible candidate with name recognition and a large political war chest, Perkins said she's feeling confident.
"I have enough time to get out there and meet people one door at a time," Perkins said.
Meantime, Read is set to be retried on charges accusing her of murdering her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, in January 2025. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, who has been charged with murdering Birchmore, is set to be in court for a status conference in October.
WBZ's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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