The Hampden County district attorney heads to Capitol Hill this week. Mark Mastroianni has been nominated for a U.S. district judge position.

Mastroianni will face questions during a hearing Tuesday from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is considering his nomination to the federal bench in Springfield. He was first nominated by President Obama in September.

Mastroianni has no experience as a judge. He was elected district attorney as an independent in 2010 and previously worked in the Hampden DA’s office, but spent most of his career as a criminal defense attorney.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mastroianni would help ease the workload at the federal court in Springfield, much of which now falls on longtime District Judge Michael Ponsor. Ponsor is technically on “senior status,” which allows him to work somewhat lighter hours. Ponsor has said he was “delighted” with President Obama’s nomination of Mastroianni.

Ahead of the hearing, Mastroianni had to fill out a questionnaire for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Mastroianni Senate Questionnaire Final by New England Public Radio