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Trial Court Chief Justice Heidi E. Brieger has appointed a new chief justice of the Probate & Family Court, effective July 7.
Judge Brian J. Dunn will succeed Chief Justice John D. Casey following his July 6 retirement from the bench.
Dunn was appointed to the Probate & Family Court in 2013 and currently is first justice of the court’s Suffolk Division.
He is a member of the Elder Justice Innovation Grant Internal Advisory Committee and is chairperson of the Guardianship Committee, according to the Trial Court. He served on the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Leal Advisors Committee and sat on the Trial Court’s Registers and Judges Working Group, Assistant Judicial Case Manager Transition Working Group, and the 2025 Transition Leadership Team.
Dunn began his legal career in 1992 as a solo practitioner concentrating on civil litigation, with a focus on juvenile law, child custody, and mental health proceedings. He is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School.
“Judge Dunn has led the busy Probate and Family Court in Suffolk County for eight years. His experience and leadership skills are well-tested and will prove to be an asset to the entire Probate and Family Court,” Brieger said in a statement. “He is recognized by his colleagues for his dedication to improving court efficiency and modernizing operations, his mentorship of fellow judges, and his leadership in delivering timely and effective justice.”
Casey has been a judge of the Probate & Family Court since 2006 and has been its chief justice since 2018.
“Chief Justice Casey has led with vision and innovation, expanding virtual services and proceedings, and launching innovative programs like the Pathways Case Management System and the Case Conferencing Program, both of which have improved access to justice,” Brieger said.
Dunn and Trial Court Administrator Thomas G. Ambrosino will reappoint Domenic DiCenso to a new five-year term as deputy court administrator for the Probate & Family Court, the Trial Court said.
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