--- title: "John P. McKenna | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-mckenna" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # John P. McKenna Massachusetts District Court · Associate Justice ## Profile - Court: Massachusetts District Court - State: Massachusetts - Role: Associate Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### remote hearings Scope: courtwide Massachusetts District Court lists specified non-evidentiary, scheduling, status, civil-management, and other proceedings that may be held remotely unless the presiding judge or clerk-magistrate orders otherwise. Evidence excerpt: The following events may be held remotely unless otherwise ordered by a judge or clerk-magistrate [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote recording Scope: courtwide Photographing, recording, or electronically transmitting a Massachusetts District Court remote or hybrid hearing requires prior authorization from the supervising judge or clerk-magistrate. Evidence excerpt: No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, of a remote or hybrid court hearing, without prior authorization from the judge or clerk magistrate [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and photography Scope: statewide In Massachusetts courts, photography, recording, or electronic transmission in a courtroom or related judicial space requires prior authorization from the judge or magistrate supervising that place, subject to Rule 1:19's separate provisions for registered news media. Evidence excerpt: No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, in any courtroom, hearing room, office, chambers or lobby of a judge or magistrate without prior authorization [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Official roster](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Massachusetts Court System official judicial roster](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) - [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-mckenna", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-p-mckenna", "name": "John P. 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McKenna Jr. was replaced on the Anne Arundel District Court by Jennifer Michelle Alexander, following his retirement from the administrative judge role - He became the District Administrative Judge on August 1, 2007, a position he held until October 19, 2022, before resuming service as an associate judge on October 20, 2022. - Selected as an Associate Judge of the District Court of Maryland, District 7, Anne Arundel County, on December 6, 2002 - He later worked in private practice at O'Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore from 1988 to 2002 and held the role of a mediator in the Civil Mediation Program of the Circuit Court in Prince George's County from 1996 to 2002 - Began his legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney in Prince George's County from 1979 to 1985, followed by service as Associate County Attorney from 1985 to 1988 ### Education - B.A. in Business Administration from Georgetown University in 1975 and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1978, gaining admission to the Maryland Bar the same year ### Additional information - McKenna has been active in professional organizations, including the Maryland State Bar Association, Anne Arundel County Bar Association (chair of the administrative division, 2008-09), Prince George's County Bar Association, Maryland Association for Justice, and the Marlborough Inn of Court. - John Peter McKenna, Jr. was born in New York and attended Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland. - He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Edward's Catholic Church in Bowie, Maryland - His judicial work included participation in numerous committees, such as the Judicial Education Committee, Administrative Judges Committee, Judicial Council, Commission on Professionalism, and the District Court Chief Judge's Committee - His tenure is recognized for leadership in court administration and contributions to judicial education and professionalism ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-20acbd9da185f40e1f10b2b2) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts). Collected 2026-07-26.