He received his commission to the federal bench on June 6, 2012.
Judge Hillman assumed senior status on July 1, 2022, and retired on July 25, 2024. In the fall of 2024, he was appointed as the National Election Supervisor to monitor the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2025-26 international elections.
Judge Hillman has presided over complex civil cases, including civil rights, personal injury cases, employment law, class actions, and cases involving federal labor law. He served on the federal multi-district litigation panel for over five years. As a magistrate judge in the federal court, Judge Hillman mediated hundreds of cases for parties before the Bar.
Judge Hillman was born in 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. He received his B.A. degree from Coe College in 1970 and his J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1973.
Hon. Timothy S. Hillman, Ret.
thillman@cmmaadr.com
Judge Tim Hillman’s distinguished legal career spans over 50 years. He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office in 1975 before going into private practice for over 25 years. While in private practice, he represented clients in a variety of civil and criminal matters with a concentration on representing municipalities.
Between 1991 and 2006, Judge Hillman served as a judge in the Trial Court of the Commonwealth in the District Court and Superior Court Departments.
From February 2006 through 2011, Judge Hillman served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court. On August 5, 2011, Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown recommended to President Barack Obama the nomination of Judge Hillman as district judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Worcester. President Obama officially nominated Judge Hillman on November 30, 2011. On June 4, 2012, the United States Senate confirmed Timothy Hillman to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts with a vote of 88-1
