Academia on tap for outgoing AG?

(State House News Service) — Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, whose roughly 16 years of elected office were brought to a halt with Gov. Charlie Baker’s victory in November, could take on a fellowship at a Bay State academic institution.

On Dec. 22 Coakley filed a disclosure with the Ethics Commission reporting that she is “under consideration for a short-term fellowship with a particular university located in the Commonwealth.”

Coakley said she would begin the fellowship after leaving office. Maura Healey, a former bureau chief in Coakley’s office, will become attorney general Jan. 21.

Coakley aides declined to identify the university where she is under consideration for a temporary fellowship.

“The AG is still discussing this potential opportunity with the university,” said Coakley spokesman Chris Loh in a statement.

The Boston Globe subsequently reported the university is Harvard University.

The attorney general oversees non-profits, including universities, and Coakley said she would deputize First Assistant Attorney General Chris Barry-Smith to take the lead on “any activities concerning this university.” She said she is unaware of any matters concerning the university that are before the attorney general’s office.

Both Coakley and Baker said that if they lost their bid for the governorship they would not seek elected office again.

Coakley was elected Middlesex district attorney in 1998 and elected attorney general in 2006. A career prosecutor, she sought election to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and sought the governorship last year.