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News Notes

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says no to Supreme Court chance

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says he’s not interested in serving on the Supreme Court.

The Democrat is close to President Barack Obama, as well as a fellow Chicagoan, Harvard Law grad and the first African American to hold his executive post.

Patrick, who kicked off his re-election campaign Saturday, told The Associated Press that he has no interest in replacing Justice John Paul Stevens.

Patrick said he won’t interview for an appointment, nor submit materials to be considered.

The 89-year-old Stevens says he will retire when the high court completes its work for the year. The president says he wants to announce a nominee in time to ensure the pick is seated before the court resumes its work this fall.

Patrick was among the governors thought to be a possible pick.

 

Patrick: Parents failed in alleged bullying case

Gov. Deval Patrick says Massachusetts has to recapture a sense of cross-family parental responsibility to prevent bullying and other harm to children highlighted by the Phoebe Prince case.

During his monthly appearance on WTKK-FM, Patrick said Friday it was “incredibly upsetting” to him “that the adults did not seem to have acted like adults.”

He didn’t distinguish between school administrators who allegedly were told about the South Hadley high schooler’s problem, or the parents of the six schoolmates charged with bullying her. The 15-year-old committed suicide in January after one day that was described as especially rough.