Carcieri to start picking judges, including chief justice
5:11 PM Fri, May 22, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Officials seek information in abandoned baby's death |
Main
| R.I. to get $450,000 to protect kids from online predators »
By Katherine Gregg PROVIDENCE, R.I. - With time running out on the 2009 legislative session, Governor Carcieri is dropping hints that he will begin making nominations next week to the seven openings on the state court bench -- including the top spot on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. While calling in to WPRO radio on Friday morning for a chat, he indicated he had finished interviewing the five candidates for chief justice of the Supreme Court and intended to "move'' on that nomination to the General Assembly, and perhaps others as early as next week. Spokeswoman Amy Kempe said he has not yet made his choices, and was still weighing the candidates and looking "at their body of work'' on Friday. Carcieri told his talk-show host, former Providence mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., that he had consulted in recent days with legislative leaders about the soon-to-come run of nominations requiring Senate confirmation in most cases, and in the case of the chief justice, approval by the House and Senate. As to when they met and what they talked about, House spokesman Larry Berman issued this statement: "Ask the governor.'' Senate spokesman Greg Pare said he would attempt to find out. The Judicial Nominating Commission on March 31 submitted the names of acting Chief Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg; three other Supreme Court justices -- Paul A. Suttell, Francis X. Flaherty and William P. Robinson III -- and Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. for the governor to consider for chief justice. State law mandates that the governor present his selection to both houses of the legislature within 21 days, but his staff has said that Carcieri views that deadline as advisory. The governor's nominee for chief justice must be confirmed by both the House and the Senate. In the interim, newly retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Williams has returned regularly to hear cases, including the high-profile case sparked by former Senate President William V. Irons' challenge to the state Ethics Commission's authority to prosecute him -- or any other past or present legislator -- for alleged ethic violations involving their actions as lawmakers. The Ethics Commission found probable cause to proceed; Darigan dismissed the charges. There are seven vacancies in the court system overall and there could be two more if sitting judges become the next chief justice of the Supreme Court or chief judge of the District Court. 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
about time
Report Abuse
in another backroom deal we the people know brian stern and maureen goldberg are in.typical rhode island business as usual.like oj looking for his wife real killer i am lookin for one honest ri politican
Report Abuse