Rhode Island Supreme Court Decisions
Founded in 1747, the Rhode Island Supreme Court holds jurisdiction over appeals that involve any legal or constitutional questions. It also oversees the practice of law in Rhode Island, including admission to the state bar and discipline for attorneys and judges who engage in misconduct. Five justices serve on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and their tenure lasts for life. This is similar to federal judges but different from most justices on state supreme courts. Rhode Island does not impose a mandatory retirement age on its judges. In 2012, a Stanford University study found that the Rhode Island Supreme Court was the eighth-most liberal state supreme court in the U.S.
When a vacancy arises on the Court, the Judicial Nominating Commission must develop a list of three to five candidates. It will present that list to the Governor of Rhode Island, who will appoint one of the candidates. Any appointments are subject to the approval of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate. A justice may face removal only if they are impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted in a trial in the Senate.
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has decided several cases that have influenced the evolution of key legal principles. For example, a 1786 decision on the validity of paper currency found that the actions of the legislature were unconstitutional. This helped lay the foundation for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that courts have the authority to strike down legislative actions on constitutional grounds. For another example, a 1974 decision shaped the development of contract law by ruling that a service contract does not require additional consideration to be modified. In 1995, the Rhode Island Supreme Court issued a decision in a tort case that set out an influential definition of battery.
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Recent Decisions From the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Date: October 18, 2024
Docket Number: 23-91
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute over a real estate transaction between Francesco Scotti and Matthew Mimiaga concerning a property at 300 Benefit Street in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2015, Scotti sold the property to…
Date: August 28, 2024
Docket Number: 22-13
Justia Opinion Summary: In August 2014, a gunman entered a barbershop in East Providence, Rhode Island, resulting in the fatal shooting of Yusef A’Vant. Thomas Mosley was implicated in the crime, with key testimony from Evan Watson, who…
Date: August 28, 2024
Docket Number: 22-142
Justia Opinion Summary: The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) filed petitions to terminate the parental rights of a father to his three sons, B.M., A.M., and N.M., based on allegations of unfitness. The petitions cited that the…
Date: August 20, 2024
Docket Number: 22-282
Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiffs, Jason Blouin and Heather Blouin, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against several healthcare providers, alleging negligence in the births of their children, X.B. and D.B., who were born with cystic…
Date: August 8, 2024
Docket Number: 23-234
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the divorce of Jose A. Saldana and Daisy M. DeJesus, who married in 2004 and separated in 2009. During their marriage, Saldana purchased a home on Whitmarsh Street, which was later transferred to…
Date: August 1, 2024
Docket Number: 23-98
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a petitioner who filed a miscellaneous petition in Family Court concerning a child whose parents are the respondent and the late Christine Hasselbrock. The petitioner, who had a long-standing platonic…
Date: July 31, 2024
Docket Number: 22-226
Justia Opinion Summary: The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) became involved with A.N.'s family after the Rhode Island State Police informed them that A.N.'s father, Francis N., had been arrested on felony charges, including…
Date: July 25, 2024
Docket Number: 23-124
Justia Opinion Summary: Louis Seignious was convicted of first-degree murder, carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and domestic breaking and entering. The incident occurred in Westerly, Rhode Island, where Seignious…
Date: July 25, 2024
Docket Number: 23-185
Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiffs, Louis Paolino and Marie E. Issa, own property in Cumberland, Rhode Island, adjacent to a site operated as an automobile recycling business. The neighboring property, owned by J.F. Realty, LLC and operated…
Date: July 24, 2024
Docket Number: 22-141
Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff and defendant were married in 1976 and divorced in 1999. Their marital settlement agreement (MSA) stipulated that their marital home would be sold, and the proceeds divided equally. The plaintiff was…
Date: July 15, 2024
Docket Number: 22-304
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and several firearm offenses after shooting the decedent, Joel Rosario, during a confrontation at a traffic light. The defendant claimed self-defense, stating he felt…
Date: July 12, 2024
Docket Number: 22-333
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a landlord-tenant eviction action where the defendant, Jo-Ann Albanese, was ordered to vacate her apartment by August 1, 2021, by the plaintiff, Red Gate Motel, Inc. Ms. Albanese did not vacate the…
Date: July 12, 2024
Docket Number: 23-49
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant was convicted by a jury in the Superior Court on one count of first-degree child molestation, three counts of second-degree child molestation, and one count of simple assault and battery. The charges…
Date: July 9, 2024
Docket Number: 22-15
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Jason Ortiz, was charged with several criminal counts, including carrying a pistol without a license, domestic assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. The charges stemmed from an incident in…
Date: July 3, 2024
Docket Number: 23-148
Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute between the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees and the University of Rhode Island (plaintiffs) and the Hellenic Society Paideia – Rhode Island Chapter (defendant). The dispute arose…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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