Mass. High Court To Release Hiring Probe Report

The state's highest court is releasing the findings of a probe into allegations of widespread patronage in the Massachusetts Probation Department.

The justices have been reviewing the report since last week and announced they will release it Thursday afternoon.

Independent counsel Paul Ware submitted the report to the Supreme Judicial Court on Nov. 10.

Probation Commissioner John O'Brien was suspended in May after a series of Boston Globe articles alleging that the department has become a patronage haven for lawmakers.

Among the witnesses subpoenaed to appear before Ware was state Rep. Thomas Petrolati of Ludlow, a top deputy to House Speaker Robert DeLeo. The Globe reported that Petrolati's wife, a former aide and financial supporters had received jobs in the department.