Rhode Island Supreme Court
From Judgepedia
| Rhode Island Supreme Court |
|---|
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| Sitting Justices |
| Frank Williams Maureen McKenna Goldberg Francis X. Flaherty Paul Suttell William Robinson |
| Former justices |
| Rhode Island on Judgepedia |
The Rhode Island Supreme Court, founded in 1747, is the court of last resort for the state of Rhode Island. It consists of a Chief Justice and four Justices. The justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court hold office for life.
Contents |
Current justices
- Frank Williams, Chief Justice. Appointed 2001 by Gov. Almond.
- Maureen McKenna Goldberg. Appointed 1997 by Gov. Almond.
- Francis X. Flaherty. Appointed 2003 by Gov. Carcieri.
- Paul Suttell. Appointed 2003 by Gov. Carcieri.
- William Robinson. Appointed 2004 by Gov. Carcieri.
History
In 1747, the Rhode Island General Assembly authorized the creation of the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize, and General Gaol Delivery, consisting of one Chief Justice and four Associates, all serving one year terms. Most of the judges during the 18th century were laymen, merchants or farmers and did not possess formal legal training, and therefore the court did not explicitly follow British Common Law. Parties, however, could still appeal to the British monarch, English courts or General Assembly.[1]
In 1747 the Assembly appointed the first Chief Justice, Gideon Cowell, who was not a lawyer and the second, Joshua Babcock, a Yale educated physician. Stephen Hopkins served as Chief Justice from 1747 to 1755 and was the first trained lawyer to serve in this position.[2]
In 1798, the Assembly renamed the Superior Court "The Supreme Judicial Court," and in 1843, "The Supreme Court."
Prominent Rhode Island Supreme Court Justices
- Peleg Arnold, Delegate to the Continental Congress
- Stephen Hopkins, Signatory of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Rhode Island
- David Howell (jurist), Delegate to the Continental Congress, federalist leader, U.S. District Judge
- William West, 1787-1789, American Revolution general, Deputy Governor, anti-federalist rebellion leader
See Also
External links
- Rhode Island Supreme Court Official Site
- Irving Berdine Richman, Rhode Island: A Study in Separatism, (Houghton, Mifflic & Co, Rhode Island: 1907), 191.[1]
- Thomas Durfee, Gleanings from the Judicial History of Rhode Island, (Providence: Sidney S. Rider, 1883), p. 164
- Amasa M. Eaton, The Development of the Judicial System in Rhode Island, Yale Law Journal14 (Jan. 1905), 148-170.
- John T. Farrell, The Early History of Rhode Island’s Court System, Rhode Island History 9 (July 1950), 65-71; 9 (Oct. 1950), 103-117; 10 (Jan. 1951), 14-25
- Link to article describing various RI Court primary sources
- Gail I. Winson, "Researching the Laws of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: From Lively Experiment1to Statehoodby," (Roger Williams School of Law)Article link.
References
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