Timothy Spafard Hillman at a glance
- Current role
- Former Judge
- Current assignment
- District Court, D. Massachusetts
- Jurisdiction
- Massachusetts · State
- Judicial service
- Former
Timothy Spafard Hillman
Former Judge · U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court, D. Massachusetts, 2012-present
- Former United States district judge for the District of Massachusetts, serving from 2012 until his retirement in July 2024
- U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 2006-2012
- Justice, Worcester Massachusetts Superior Court, 1998-2006
- Presiding justice, Worcester Massachusetts District Court, 1997-1998
- presiding justice, 1995-1997
- Justice, Gardner Massachusetts District Court, 1991-1997
Education
- B.A. — Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and his J.D. in 1973 from Suffolk University Law School in Boston (1970)
Additional information
- On November 30, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Hillman to replace retiring Judge Nancy Gertner
- Faculty member, Clark University, 2002-2005
- Faculty member, Massachusetts School of Law, 1999-2005
- City solicitor, Gardner, MA, 1989-1990
- Town counsel, Athol, MA, 1988-1990
- Town counsel, Petersham, MA, 1988-1990
- Town counsel, Lunenburg, MA, 1981-1990
- City solicitor, Fitchburg, MA, 1978-1990
- Private practice, Fitchburg, MA, 1974-1990
- Assistant district attorney, Worcester County, MA, 1975-1978
- Born March 13, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois.
- Date of birth: 1948-01-01
- Birth place: Chicago, IL
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 authorizationSupreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts ↗
Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts current judicial profile ↗Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts ↗