Orleans Judge Pleads Not Guilty To Charges

BRIGHTON – Orleans District Court’s top judge pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault and battery June 11 in Brighton Municipal Court.

Robert A. Welsh III was charged with one count each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over the age of 60 and assault and battery on a family or household member. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on personal recognizance.

Welsh’s attorney, Daniel O’Malley, could not be reached for comment June 12.

In May, a woman met with Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois, an assistant district attorney with his office, and a state police unit commander. In that meeting, she alleged that Welsh assaulted her on two separate occasions in May 2021 and January of this year.

The woman, whose name was redacted from the police report filed by Massachusetts State Police Detective Lieutenant Kevin MacDermott, said that in May 2021, Welsh threw her to the ground and left her to meet with friends while on vacation in Las Vegas, Nev. She declined to press charges at the time of the alleged incident, according to the report.

It is also alleged that the woman was  “physically assaulted” in Sandwich by Welsh in January. The woman alleges that Welsh “grabbed her by the arms so tightly that she had to bite him to get him to let go.” She also alleged that Welsh, in the same incident, “kicked her in the vagina while wearing a shoe.”

The woman also said that Welsh “appeared intoxicated” in both incidents. She also alleged that Welsh “was often intoxicated and would show up to work hungover,” adding that he was “easily aggravated” when drinking alcohol. She also said that Welsh consistently told her that he was “untouchable” because he was a judge.

Welsh was appointed to the bench in Orleans by former Governor Mitt Romney in 2006. His father, grandfather and great grandfather each preceded him as the court’s first justice. 

Prior to his appointment, Welsh spent 14 years as a prosecutor with the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s office. The case against Welsh was transferred to Brighton to avoid any conflict of interest, a spokesperson for Galibois said in May.

Welsh has been on “administrative duty” since May 11. He is currently working but not hearing cases, according to a spokesperson for the state’s Supreme Judicial Court.

Welsh is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing in Brighton on July 14.