Name Cornelius Kiernan | Role Politician | |
Cornelius F. Kiernan (August 15, 1917 – January 20, 1996) was an American politician and judge who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and a special justice in the Somerville and Lowell District Courts.
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Early life
Kiernan was born on August 15, 1917 in Lowell, Massachusetts. He graduated from St. Patrick's Boys' Parochial School, Lowell High School, Northeastern University, and Boston University. He earned his law degree in 1941.
Political career
Kiernan served on the Lowell School Committee from 1948 to 1949. He then served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1949 to 1974. From 1958 to 1962 he was the House Majority Leader. He resigned as a Majority Leader to challenge incumbent John F. Thompson for the position of Speaker. During the Speaker's election, Governor-elect Endicott Peabody took the unprecedented step of endorsing Michael P. Feeney, a fellow liberal Democrat, over Thompson. After Feeney failed to defeat Thompson on the first ballot, most of Feeney's supporters backed Kiernan as a compromise candidate. On the sixth and final ballot he lost to Thompson 118 votes to 78, with 28 votes going to Republican leader Sidney Curtiss and 24 members not voting. Kiernan's support was divided almost equally between anti-Thompson Democrats and Republicans, with 44 Democrats and 34 Republicans voting for him on the final ballot.
From 1966 to 1974, Kiernan served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Judicial service
Kiernan was nominated a special justice in the Somerville District Court by Governor Francis W. Sargent. His nomination was approved by the Massachusetts Governor's Council on February 20, 1974 and he was sworn in on March 20. Later that year, Sargent appointed Kiernan to the same position in the Lowell District Court.
Death
Kiernan died on January 20, 1996.