Erin Lynch Prata

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Erin Lynch Prata
Image of Erin Lynch Prata

Nonpartisan

Rhode Island Supreme Court
Tenure

2021 - Present

Years in position

4

Predecessor
Prior offices
Rhode Island State Senate District 31
Successor: Kendra Anderson

Compensation

Base salary

$230,343

Elections and appointments
Appointed

December 8, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Boston College, 1997

Law

Catholic University, 2000

Personal
Birthplace
Warwick, R.I.
Profession
Attorney


Erin Lynch Prata is a justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. She assumed office on January 4, 2021.

Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) nominated Lynch Prata on December 8, 2020, to replace Justice Gilbert Indeglia.[1] The Rhode Island Senate confirmed Lynch Prata on December 18, 2020.[2] The justices on the Rhode Island Supreme Court hold office for life. To learn more about this appointment, click here.

Lynch Prata previously served in the Rhode Island State Senate as a Democrat, representing District 31 from 2009 to 2021. Lynch Prata served on the Senate Judiciary Committee throughout her tenure and was the committee's chairwoman during the 2019-2020 legislative session.

Biography

Lynch Prata was born on May 17, 1975, in Warwick, Rhode Island.[3] She received a bachelor's degree from Boston College in 1997 and a law degree from the Catholic University in 2000.[3] Lynch Prata previously served as a law clerk for Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.[3]

Following her graduation from law school, Lynch Prata began practicing law in Warwick.[3] In 2008, she ran as a Democrat to represent District 31 in the Rhode Island State Senate. The seat was left open following the retirement of Sen. John C. Revens (D). Lynch Prata won election to the Senate in 2008 and won re-election five times. She did not seek re-election in 2020.

Appointments

2020

See also: Rhode Island Supreme Court justice vacancy (June 2020)

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (D) nominated Erin Lynch Prata to the Rhode Island Supreme Court on December 8, 2020. The Rhode Island General Assembly confirmed the nomination after votes from the state House on December 16 and the state Senate on December 19, 2020. Lynch Prata succeeded Justice Gilbert Indeglia, who retired on June 30, 2020.[4][5] She was Gov. Raimondo's first nominee to the five-member supreme court.

At the time of the appointment, supreme court justices were selected by the governor with help from a nominating commission and approval from the legislature.

Media coverage of the appointment process primarily focused on interpretations of Rhode Island's law prohibiting legislators from applying for a state job for one year after serving in the General Assembly. The law came into question after Lynch Prata, a Democratic state senator representing District 31, announced she would not seek re-election and applied for the open supreme court seat.

Coverage also focused on diversity. State Sen. Harold Metts (D) and state Rep. Joseph Almeida (D) both called for a person from a minority group to be named on the court. On Twitter, Gov. Raimondo announced that the nomination of Erin Lynch Prata and Melissa Long to the Rhode Island Supreme Court could result in the court being "majority-female for the first time." The governor also wrote that Long was the "first person of color nominated to serve" on the state supreme court.[6][7]

Elections

2018

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Rhode Island State Senate District 31

Incumbent Erin Lynch Prata defeated Jennifer Moffat in the general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 31 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Erin Lynch Prata
Erin Lynch Prata (D)
 
61.3
 
7,052
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jennifer Moffat (R)
 
38.5
 
4,429
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
14

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,495
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 31

Incumbent Erin Lynch Prata advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 31 on September 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Erin Lynch Prata
Erin Lynch Prata
 
100.0
 
2,576

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,576
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 31

Jennifer Moffat advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 31 on September 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jennifer Moffat
 
100.0
 
868

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 868
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 29, 2016.

Incumbent Erin Lynch ran unopposed in the Rhode Island State Senate District 31 general election.[8][9]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Erin Lynch Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections


Incumbent Erin Lynch ran unopposed in the Rhode Island State Senate District 31 Democratic primary.[10][11]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 31 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Erin Lynch Incumbent (unopposed)


2014

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 25, 2014. Incumbent Erin Lynch was unopposed in the Democratic primary. James Roche ran as an independent candidate. Lynch defeated Roche in the general election.[12][13][14]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngErin Lynch Incumbent 63.9% 6,149
     Independent James Roche 36.1% 3,473
Total Votes 9,622

2012

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2012

Lynch Prata was re-elected to represent District 31 in the Rhode Island State Senate on November 6, 2012. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and general election.[15][16][17]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngErin Lynch Incumbent 97.5% 9,862
     Other Write-in 2.5% 257
Total Votes 10,119

2010

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2010

Lynch was re-elected to represent District 31 in the Rhode Island State Senate on November 2, 2010. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and general election.[18][19]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngErin Lynch Incumbent 100% 7,261
Total Votes 7,261

2008

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2008

Lynch was elected to represent District 31 in the Rhode Island State Senate on November 4, 2008, with 60.1% of the vote. She advanced to the general election following a Democratic primary, where she received 50.3% of the vote. The seat was open following the retirement of Sen. John C. Revens (D).[20][21]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2008
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngErin Lynch 60.1% 7,775
     Republican Thomas Madden 39.9% 5,172
Total Votes 12,947


Rhode Island State Senate, District 31, Democratic Primary Election, 2008
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngErin Lynch 50.3% 859
     Democratic David Bennett 49.7% 849
Total Votes 1,708

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Erin Lynch Prata campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2016Rhode Island State Senate, District 31Won $25,625 N/A**
2014Rhode Island State Senate, District 31Won $35,150 N/A**
2012Rhode Island State Senate, District 31Won $19,425 N/A**
2010Rhode Island State Senate, District 31Won $35,755 N/A**
2008Rhode Island State Senate, District 31Won $46,805 N/A**
Grand total$162,760 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

2016

Lynch Prata won re-election to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2016. During that election cycle, Lynch Prata raised a total of $25,625.

Rhode Island State Senate 2016 election - campaign contributions
Top contributors to Erin Lynch Prata's campaign in 2016
Griffin, James$1,000
Rhode Island Laborers District Council$800
Rhode Island Brotherhood Of Correctional Officers$500
Rhode Island Builders Association$500
Operating Engineers Local 57$500
Total raised in 2016$25,625
Source: Follow the Money

2014

Erin Lynch won re-election to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2014. During that election cycle, Erin Lynch raised a total of $35,150.

2012

Erin Lynch won re-election to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Erin Lynch raised a total of $19,425.

2010

Erin Lynch won re-election to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2010. During that election cycle, Erin Lynch raised a total of $35,755.

2008

Erin Lynch won election to the Rhode Island State Senate in 2008. During that election cycle, Erin Lynch raised a total of $46,805.

State legislative tenure

Committee assignments

This section details state legislative committees, to which Lynch Prata was assigned during her state legislative tenure.

2019-2020

Prata was assigned to the following committees:

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, Lynch Prata served on the following committees:

2015-2016

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Lynch Prata served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Lynch Prata served on the following committees:

2011-2012

At the beginning of the 2011 legislative session, Lynch Prata served on these committees:

2009-2010

At the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, Lynch Prata served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Rhode Island

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Rhode Island scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.






2020

In 2020, the Rhode Island State Legislature was in session from January 7 to August 30.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

State supreme court judicial selection in Rhode Island

See also: Judicial selection in Rhode Island

The five justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court are appointed by the governor with help from a nominating commission made up of nine members. Supreme court nominees must then be approved by a majority vote of both the state House and the state Senate.[23] Justices serve for life or until they retire.

Qualifications

To serve on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, a judge must be:

  • an attorney;
  • licensed to practice law in the state; and
  • a member of the state bar in good standing.[23]

Chief justice

The chief justice is chosen the same way as other justices are when appointed to the court. Like other judges, the chief justice serves in that capacity for life.[23]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

Because Rhode Island judges serve for life or until they retire, the concept of a midterm vacancy has little relevance to the state's selection process. When a judge retires or passes away in office, the governor picks a nominee from a list from the judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority vote in both chambers of the state legislature.[23]

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.



See also

Rhode Island Judicial Selection More Courts
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Courts in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Supreme Court
Elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Rhode Island
Federal courts
State courts
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ SFGATE, "Raimondo makes historic nomination to state Supreme Court," December 8, 2020
  2. ↑ The Providence Journal, "General Assembly passes $12.7 billion budget, confirms judges," December 18, 2020
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 VoteSmart.com, "Erin Lynch Prata's Biography," accessed July 27, 2021
  4. ↑ SFGate, "Raimondo makes historic nomination to state Supreme Court," December 8, 2020
  5. ↑ GoLocalProv, "RI Senate Confirms Judicial Appointments, Including First Minority to Majority-Female Supreme Court," December 19, 2020
  6. ↑ Twitter, "Gina Raimondo on December 8, 2020," accessed December 8, 2020
  7. ↑ Twitter, "Gina Raimondo on December 8, 2020," accessed December 8, 2020
  8. ↑ Rhode Island Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Search," accessed October 5, 2016
  9. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2016 general election results," accessed January 19, 2017
  10. ↑ Rhode Island Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Search," accessed June 30, 2016
  11. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2016 Statewide Primary," accessed October 14, 2016
  12. ↑ Rhode Island Secretary of State, "Candidates for Senator in General Assembly," accessed June 30, 2014
  13. ↑ Rhode Island Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Results: Senator in General Assembly," accessed September 26, 2014
  14. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "Official 2014 general election results," accessed December 4, 2014
  15. ↑ Candidates in Upcoming Elections, "Rhode Island Secretary of State," accessed July 5, 2012
  16. ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2012 Statewide Primary Results," accessed July 27, 2021
  17. ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2012 Statewide General Election Results," accessed July 27, 2021
  18. ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2010 Statewide Primary Results," accessed July 27, 2021
  19. ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2010 Statewide General Election Results," accessed July 27, 2021
  20. ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2008 Statewide General Election Results," accessed July 27, 2021
  21. ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2008 Statewide Primary Election Results," accessed July 27, 2021
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Warwick Online, "Rep. Morgan scores top on 'subjective' House Freedom Index," May 31, 2016
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Rhode Island," archived October 3, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
Gilbert V. Indeglia 		Rhode Island Supreme Court
2021-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Rhode Island State Senate District 31
2009-2021		 Succeeded by
Kendra Anderson (D)


Rhode Island courts

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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