Orleans Judge Charged With Assault and Battery

ORLEANS – Orleans District Court’s top judge has been placed on administrative duty as he faces charges of assault and battery.

 The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Friday that First Justice Robert A. Welsh III has been charged with assault and battery on a household or family member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person aged 60 or older. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 19 in Brighton Municipal Court, a court official confirmed Friday.

 Welsh was first appointed to the bench in Orleans by then-Gov. Mitt Romney in 2006. He is the fourth judge in his family to serve in Orleans, following his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. 

Prior to becoming a judge, Welsh spent 14 years as a prosecutor with the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s office. Danielle Whitney, spokesperson for Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois, said that the case has been moved to Brighton due to a conflict of interest.

 Erika Gully-Santiago, a spokesperson for the state’s Supreme Judicial Court, said that Welsh was placed on leave May 11.

 “He is not hearing cases while the matter is pending,” she said. “He is being paid. His administrative duties are not in Orleans.” She did not elaborate on what Welsh’s “administrative duties” are.

 Additional information regarding the charges brought against Welsh have not yet been made available. The Brighton Muncipal Court clerk's office said Friday that "the police report and associated charging documents have been impounded per order of the Court."

Attempts to reach Welsh’s attorney, Daniel O’Malley, have been unsuccessful.

 This is a developing story.