RI Supreme Court

Rhode Island Courts: The Insider Lollapalozza

Scott MacKay — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:56:20 +0000

After the Rhode Island court scandals of the 1990s, the state changed the way judges are chosen. RIPR political analyst explains why lawyers with Statehouse connections keep getting appointed to the bench despite the reforms.

Common Cause of Rhode Island, the good government group, the Rhode Island Bar Association and a past president of the NAACP skewered Gov. Lincoln Chafee recently when he elevated former Senate President Joe Montalbano to a coveted judgeship on the state superior court bench.

Len Levin becomes new RI Supreme Court grammarian

Scott MacKay — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:54:13 +0000

Len Levin, a retired Providence Journal editor known for his meticulous work with reporters’ copy and a deep knowledge of all things Rhode Island, has been chosen as the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s new grammarian.

Levin, an extraordinarily literate and well-read person, replaces the late Joel Sekeres, also a retired ProJo editor and reporter who died recently. Levin will assume responsibility for parsing high court decisions for grammar errors.

Fung calls on Gov. Chafee to bring diversity to RI Supreme Court

Catherine Welch — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:00:00 +0000

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Cranston Mayor Allan Fung called on the governor to appoint a person of color to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Fung made the call at the annual Martin Luther King Jr Day breakfast during remarks that also gave credit to voters for electing Latino mayors in Providence and in Central Falls.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee was at the breakfast, he says he heard Fung’s call.