James J. Craven Jr. (March 24, 1919 – June 6, 1991) was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 12th Suffolk District (includes parts of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale) starting in 1957. Craven was found guilty the state's conflict-of-interest law (Sections 2(b), 6, and 23(d) of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268A).[1] Upon appeal, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) affirmed they lower court’s decision in Craven’s case against the State Ethics Commission.[2]
Craven, a resident of Jamaica Plain, was unseated in the November 1984 elections. Two major reasons he lost the election was the conflict of interest finding discussed below but also a December 1983 House reprimand for violating the legislature's code of ethics. After he lost the election, he had been named to a $55,000 staff job with the House Rules Committee by former speaker Thomas W. McGee. Even though he had only been in the position a few days, it allowed his pension to be increased by $18,000 per annum. House Speaker George Keverian blocked the increase.[3]
He is also known for playing a lead role in the Doyle-Flynn Bill, passed in 1978, which prohibited using Medicaid funds being used for abortions, until it was overturned in 1981.
- ^ "Decision In the Matter of James J. Craven Jr". Mass.gov. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "JAMES J. CRAVEN, JR. vs. STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Decisions, Massachusetts Case Law, Massachusetts Law". Justia. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ Merry, George B. (April 11, 1985). "Craven case could help curb practice of 'taking care of' ex-legislators". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 26 November 2019.