Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of four Vermonters to the State’s judiciary, filling existing vacancies.
David A. Barra, Scot L. Kline and Megan J. Shafritz were each appointed as a judge to the Vermont Superior Court, which is the state’s trial court consisting of civil, criminal, environmental, family and probate divisions. The judiciary will make the specific court assignments once these appointees are sworn in.
The Governor also announced the appointment of Alicia Sacerio Humbert as Family Division magistrate. The judiciary will assign this magistrate primarily to Caledonia, Essex, Orleans and Washington counties. The Family Division of the Superior Court has jurisdiction over all family-related legal matters, including divorce, separation, civil union dissolution and parentage. As magistrate, Humbert will preside over and make decisions in family-related proceedings.
“I’m proud to appoint these impressive individuals to serve Vermonters in our judicial system,” said Gov. Scott. “They have each demonstrated integrity and fairness throughout their careers and bring valuable experience, judgement and leadership to our judiciary.”
About David A. Barra
Barra, of Essex, founded the Law Offices of David A. Barra, PLC in 2011, where his practice has focused on civil litigation, zoning, landlord/tenant and municipal law. He has an extensive background in tort and land use litigation. Prior to that, he was a founding partner with Unsworth & Barra, PLC for nearly 20 years. He has appellate experience in the Vermont Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second and Fourth Circuits. He is a member of the Chittenden County and Vermont Bar Associations and currently serves on the VBA Alternative Dispute Resolution and Municipal Law Committees. He graduated cum laude from Williams College and received his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center.
About Scot L. Kline
Kline, of Essex, has served as general counsel at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) since 2016. Prior to joining DFR, he was the chief of the Environmental Protection Division at the Vermont Attorney General’s Office for nearly a decade. Kline was previously general counsel at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources from 2005 to 2007, and a member and co-owner of the law firm of Eggleston & Cramer, Ltd in Burlington from 1997 to 2005. Prior to that time, Kline was the Chittenden County state’s attorney from 1992 to 1997, deputy state’s attorney from 1989 to 1992 and litigation associate with Davis, Polk & Wardwell from 1987 to 1989. Kline graduated from Ohio University, BBA, summa cum laude and Cornell Law School, J.D., magna cum laude.
About Megan J. Shafritz
Shafritz, of South Burlington, has served as an Assistant Attorney General since 2009, where she was Chief of the Civil Division and supervised nine attorneys and four legal staff. Prior to that role, she was an associate and then partner with the Burlington law firm Gravel and Shea for seven years, practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, general business disputes, and personal injury cases. From 1995-2000, Shafritz was a litigation associate with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York. Shafritz’s pro bono and community service work has included serving as acting judge for Chittenden and Washington County small claims court, pro bono representation of vulnerable individuals, and leading a branch of the New York Incarcerated Mothers Law Project. She received her B.A. from Williams College and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Following graduation from law school, Shafritz clerked for the Honorable Roderick R. McKelvie of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
About Alicia Sacerio Humbert
Humbert, of Northfield, has spent nearly two decades as an attorney at the Vermont Department of Children & Families’ Office of Child Support, most recently as managing attorney for the central office. In this role, she represented the State in child support hearings, primarily before the Family Division magistrate and judge. Her practice experience includes family law as well as in civil, criminal, probate and juvenile areas. Humbert received a B.A. from Auburn University, an M.A. from Salve Regina University, and her J.D. from Vermont Law School.