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Courts in Rhode Island
| More information on Rhode Island's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Rhode Island, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, and trial courts. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Rhode Island's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
Selection of state court judges in Rhode Island occurs through the assisted appointment method. The Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission evaluates and recommends candidates to the governor, whose appointee must be approved by either the Rhode Island Senate or both the house and senate.[1][2]
Federal courts
The federal district court in Rhode Island is the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. This court may hear appeals from state courts and is also the point of origination for federal cases and lawsuits.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2011 - |
Brown University, 1980 |
Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 1983 |
||
| September 30, 2019 - |
Providence College, 1987 |
Suffolk University Law School, 1992 |
||
| January 2, 2025 - |
Providence College, 1990 |
Roger Williams School of Law, 2004 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 2
- Republican appointed: 1
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in Rhode Island. This court has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in Rhode Island is:
State supreme court
- See also: Rhode Island Supreme Court
Founded in 1747, the Rhode Island Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships.[3] The current chief of the court is Paul Suttell.[4]
As of August 2021, three judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor and two were appointed by a Democratic governor.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Supreme Court | Melissa Long | Nonpartisan | January 11, 2021 |
| Rhode Island Supreme Court | Maureen McKenna Goldberg | Nonpartisan | 1997 |
| Rhode Island Supreme Court | Erin Lynch Prata | Nonpartisan | January 4, 2021 |
| Rhode Island Supreme Court | William P. Robinson | Nonpartisan | 2004 |
| Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice | Paul Suttell | Nonpartisan | July 16, 2009 |
Trial courts
Superior court
- See also: Rhode Island Superior Court
The Rhode Island Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Rhode Island. It exercises original jurisdiction in felony cases, civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000, and all equity proceedings.[5]
District court
- See also: Rhode Island District Court
The Rhode Island District Court is the trial court of limited jurisdiction in Rhode Island.[6]
Family court
- See also: Rhode Island Family Court
The Family Court is a limited jurisdiction court in Rhode Island that oversees family-related cases including those involving divorce, property distribution, and child support.[7]
Workers' compensation court
- See also: Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court
The Workers' Compensation Court of Rhode Island handles disputes between employers and employees concerning workers' compensation benefits.[8]
Traffic tribunal
- See also: Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal
The Traffic Tribunal is a court in Rhode Island with original jurisdiction over civil traffic offenses and concurrent jurisdiction with the municipal courts over lesser traffic offenses.[9]
To read more about judicial elections in Rhode Island, click here.
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Rhode Island," archived October 22, 2014
- ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Constitution of the State of Rhode Island," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Rhode Island Supreme Court," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Rhode Island Judiciary, "Superior Court," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Rhode Island Judiciary, "District Court," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Rhode Island Judiciary, "Family Court," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Rhode Island Judiciary, "Workers' Compensation Court," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Rhode Island Judiciary, "Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal," accessed April 10, 2025
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Rhode Island • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Rhode Island
State courts:
Rhode Island Supreme Court • Rhode Island Superior Court • Rhode Island District Court • Rhode Island Family Court • Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court • Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal
State resources:
Courts in Rhode Island • Rhode Island judicial elections • Judicial selection in Rhode Island
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