In Brief:
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court schedules April 9 status hearing.
- Investigation concerns judge Douglas J. Darnbrough and Bristol County ADA.
- Committee for Public Counsel Services identified 3,700 related dockets.
- Former Judge Ernest Sarason appointed special master for inquiry.
BOSTON — A status hearing involving an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship between a former New Bedford District Court judge and assistant Bristol County District Attorney will be held April 9 before a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court associate justice.
The investigation stems from an appeal of the denial of a new trial in the conviction of Gerson Pascual-Santana in 2023 in New Bedford District Court.
The presiding judge in Pascual-Santana’s conviction was Douglas J. Darnbrough and the case was prosecuted by the assistant district attorney in question…