William Weld

Defeated US Republican White House candidate Mitt Romney's son Tagg ruled out running for Senate on Monday after speculation that he might jump in to seek a newly open Massachusetts seat.

His father may have lost the presidential election, but Tagg Romney is now considering a US Senate bid, a Boston newspaper reported Monday.

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - In contrast to 2008, Democratic President Barack Obama cannot count on a wave of support for his re-election bid next year from well-known moderate Republicans.

BOSTON (Reuters) - Barbara Lenk was confirmed on Wednesday as the first openly gay Supreme Court justice on Massachusetts' highest court.

The Massachusetts Governor's Council has confirmed Governor Deval Patrick's pick for the state's Supreme Judicial Court, Barbara Lenk. The Massachusetts Governor's Council has confirmed Governor Deval Patrick's pick for the state's Supreme Judicial Court, Barbara Lenk, The Boston Globe reported. The 60-year-old Lenk, a veteran Appeals Court judge, becomes the first openly gay judge to serve on the state's highest court. The council confirmed Lenk with a 5-3 vote on Wednesday. Lenk also makes history as the first justice able to marry her spouse as a result of the court's groundbreaking 2003 ruling that brought gay marriage to Massachusetts the following year, making it the first state in the nation to do so. Social conservatives opposed Lenk's appointment to the SJC, arguing that it would lead to a greater number of children being indoctrinated into the ?homosexual lifestyle.? Former Governor William Weld appointed Lenk to the Superior Court in 1993. Two years later, Weld appointed her

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Monday nominated Barbara Lenk, a lesbian, to fill an opening on the state's highest court.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Monday nominated Barbara Lenk, an openly gay appellate judge, to the Supreme Judicial Court. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Monday nominated Barbara Lenk, an openly gay appellate judge, to the state's Supreme Judicial Court, the Boston Globe reported. The 60-year-old Lenk would be the first openly gay justice to serve on the court. ?She is a brilliant and thoughtful justice with a deep sense of justice,? Patrick said in a statement announcing his choice. If confirmed, Lenk would also make history as the first justice able to marry her spouse as a result of the court's groundbreaking 2003 ruling that brought gay marriage to Massachusetts in 2004, making it the first state in the nation to do so?. Former Governor William Weld appointed Lenk to the Superior Court in 1993. Two years later, Weld appointed her to the Appeals Court. A native of New York, Lenk holds a doctorate in political philosophy from Yale University and received her law de

Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, Republican Charles Baker and independent Timothy Cahill had some of their sharpest exchanges yet on Monday during a gubernatorial debate otherwise focused on the state's biotechnology industry.

Mass. gubernatorial candidates have sharp exchanges amid debate focused on biotech industry. Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, Republican Charles Baker and independent Timothy Cahill had some of their sharpest exchanges yet on Monday during a gubernatorial debate otherwise focused on the state's biotechnology industry.

Massachusetts chief justice who wrote landmark gay marriage ruling says she's retiring. Massachusetts Chief Justice Margaret Marshall said Wednesday that while she understands her tenure on the state's high court will always be linked to the legalization of gay marriage, that case holds no greater importance in her mind than the hundreds of other rulings she authored.

Presidential pep talk, crowded field helps Democratic governor revive flagging re-election bid. A piece of advice last fall from the nation's No. 1 political whisperer to a struggling fellow Democrat may have burnished a campaign template this year for nervous incumbents: President Barack Obama told Gov. Deval Patrick to get over his revulsion about asking for campaign cash and start boasting about his record.

Mass. Cape Wind off-shore project gets nod from federal govt., threat of lawsuits from critics. With federal approval behind them, developers of what would be the nation's first offshore wind farm still have a tough journey ahead before finally producing power in the waters off Cape Cod.

Mass. GOP Senate candidate Brown criticizes Obama's plan to tax banks over bailout money. Massachusetts GOP Senate hopeful Scott Brown is criticizing the White House plan to tax banks that received federal bailout money.

Former Mass. governor says grudge led to bankruptcy of Ky. college he ran. A federal official upset about losing his job gained revenge by triggering the 2005 bankruptcy of a Kentucky college run by former Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld, two attorneys allege.

Former Mass. governor says grudge led to bankruptcy of Ky. college he ran. An attorney for former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld says a federal education official bearing a grudge triggered the 2005 bankruptcy of a Kentucky vocational college Weld headed.

Experts from around the world gather from Wednesday in Madrid for a three-day conference that aims to hash out international standards for the protection of privacy and personal data.