Diana H. Horan

Professional career

• Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey A. Locke announced Horan’s appointment on February 24, 2023, in accordance with G.L. c.211B,.5
• The Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Housing Court, appointed for a five‐year term beginning March 25, 2023, and is the first woman to hold that role
• In 2018, became Acting First Justice of the new MetroSouth Division
• First woman judge appointed to the Massachusetts Housing Court in 1999
• held the role of First Justice of the Central Housing Court Division in Worcester for almost 20 years
• In her own words, Horan is “mindful” of following Chief Justice Sullivan’s leadership through geographic expansion and the pandemic, and aims to continue that steady guidance

Education

Additional information

• Horan’s appointment marks a milestone for women in the Massachusetts judiciary and for the Housing Court’s mission to provide fair, efficient, and timely resolution of housing disputes
• She succeeded Chief Justice Timothy F. Sullivan, who retired after nearly 20 years on the Housing Court, including over seven years as chief.
• Diversity and inclusion — the Housing Court’s staff is over 73% female and more than 42% identify as diverse; she plans to promote diversity in leadership through outreach and public education