Pols & Politics: Judging Donald Trump - Boston Herald

Thousands of women will rally in Washington, D.C., a day after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration to send a “bold message” to the incoming commander in chief. “We stand together,” the event’s mission statement reads. “HEAR OUR VOICE.”

Except if you’re a sitting Massachusetts judge.

That’s, at least, according to the Supreme Judicial Court, whose Committee on Judicial Ethics is barring its judges from attending the event because it would violate their code on political activity.

According to an advisory opinion posted on the court’s website, at least one judge asked if she, or he — the court doesn’t make the requests public — could attend the Jan. 21 event on the National Mall.

Recognizing the irony in making the decision, the court’s ethics committee noted march organizers emphasize the event “is intended to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone who supports women’s rights.”

But, the committee says, “the political overtones are unmistakable.”

Officials pointed to a statement posted on the event’s website that decries the “rhetoric of the past election cycle” that has “insulted, demonized, and threatened” a wide range of different groups. Its primary stated purpose is to send a message to the Trump administration on its first full day in office.

“We understand that you wish to participate in the Women’s March to stand up against misogyny, racism, and other biases and bigotries that threaten the rule of law,” the committee wrote. “The public and the media are, however, likely to focus on the timing of the event and the organizers’ announced desire to ‘send a message’ to the new President on his first day in office.”

A “reasonable person,” it adds, would categorize it as a political protest, and thus no place for a judge.

Run, Marty, run

With 2017 nearly upon us, there may be only a precious few times Mayor Martin J. Walsh won’t be asked about his re-election run, who is (and could be) running against him and his pitch to voters.

But while a potential opponent is making $15,000 campaign videos, Walsh hasn’t shown many formal signs of revving the throttle on his political machine. He’s continually kept a campaign office, and long employed a staffer in Rachel Goldstein, who’s operated as a political spokeswoman. (Adviser Michael Goldman, while not paid, has also served that role.)

But his campaign finance filings don’t show an influx of new consultants or fundraisers beyond those he’s employed since his 2013 victory. His $200,000 fundraising haul the first half of this month is notable, but it’s also not even the most he’s raised in a two-week span since taking office.

Many of Walsh’s most trusted campaign hands now work in his administration. But he said there “probably” won’t be anyone moving from City Hall into a full-time campaign role. (That said, it’s not uncommon for staff of incumbent candidates to work on a campaign during their own time.)

“I’ll have a separate press operation, a separate scheduling operation,” Walsh said. “You can’t have the same people do it. I’m thinking about (the campaign infrastructure). I haven’t done it yet, probably at the criticism of a lot of people who want me to get started on it now. But I have some ideas. I’m not worried about that. We can set up the campaign pretty quickly.”

Cut off

A wide range of groups have decried the $98 million in cuts Gov. Charlie Baker made this month to trim the budget. Now count the Massachusetts Gaming Commission as one of them.

Chairman Stephen Crosby used part of his time at last week’s meeting to highlight what he called a “very serious budget cut” to the Mass. Council on Compulsive Gambling, which took a $500,000 hit to its $1.5 million allowance. (Crosby said it’s funded by unclaimed lottery winnings.)

“And that’s the only money that was put forward in the past for — for problem gambling,” Crosby said, according to a meeting transcript. “We are certainly supportive of trying to get that budget cut reinstated. They do incredibly good work.

“And anything else that anybody else can do,” he implored, “to encourage the legislature to reinstate that budget cut would be much appreciated.”

Bob McGovern contributed to this story.