Rhode Island

Lawyer censured for ‘testi-lied’ remark about witness testimony

A Rhode Island lawyer has been censured for commenting that an expert witness had “testi-lied,” leading to a mistrial.

Jul 6, 2023 2:54 PM CDT

11th Circuit judge pokes fun at Federalist Society critics in convention remarks

A federal appeals judge poked fun at a Democratic senator, Above the Law bloggers and other critics of the Federalist Society during opening remarks at the conservative group’s annual convention Thursday.

Nov 14, 2022 8:48 AM CST

Feds drop charges against judge accused of helping immigrant evade ICE custody

Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against a Newton, Massachusetts, judge accused of helping an immigrant evade a courthouse arrest by immigration officials.

Sep 23, 2022 9:46 AM CDT

Top state court grants reprieve to lawyer who flubbed electronic filing in 2020 after his secretary quit

A Rhode Island lawyer who mistakenly thought he was successful in electronically filing a slip-and-fall lawsuit was granted a reprieve last week when the state’s top court reinstated the complaint. The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled for Cranston lawyer Christopher Petrarca in a March 16 order. The Providence Journal has…

Mar 21, 2022 10:00 AM CDT

Students who sued for an adequate civics education lose in 1st Circuit

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that Rhode Island students can’t proceed with their lawsuit contending that the state failed to provide an adequate civics education in violation of their constitutional rights.

Jan 13, 2022 10:50 AM CST

Supreme Court allows vaccine mandate for health workers that didn’t offer religious exemption

Maine’s vaccine mandate for health care workers, which doesn’t allow religious exemptions, is being enforced after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene Friday.

Nov 1, 2021 9:56 AM CDT

Lawyer avoids interim suspension after conviction stemming from impaired mother’s wandering

A justice on Massachusetts’ top court has declined to impose an interim suspension on a lawyer convicted of neglect in Rhode Island for failing to provide adequate care for his mother who has dementia.

Aug 24, 2021 1:15 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Husch Blackwell merges with boutique firm; man sentenced for threat to Flynn judge

Husch Blackwell will merge with boutique firm Husch Blackwell has announced a merger with a health law boutique that represents hospitals and health care systems in the Boston area. The merger with Summit Health Law Partners gives Husch Blackwell offices in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island—its first offices in the…

Jul 20, 2021 3:39 PM CDT

SCOTUS rules against warrantless seizure of guns while man is in hospital for suicide evaluation

In a unanimous opinion Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against police who seized a man’s guns without a warrant while he was in the hospital for a suicide evaluation.

May 17, 2021 11:01 AM CDT

Several states consider lowering cut scores on bar exam, making it easier to pass

Rhode Island has followed California’s lead in lowering the bar exam cut score to make the test easier to pass, a step that several other states are also considering.

Mar 29, 2021 11:37 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Student loan reprieve extended; did Giuliani infect state lawmakers?

One more month of student loan forbearance announced by Education Department Student loan forbearance has been extended through Jan. 31, the U.S. Department of Education announced Friday. The offering started in March as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. In August, President Donald Trump directed the…

Dec 7, 2020 4:37 PM CST

Federal judge rules students have no right to civics education while warning of peril to democracy

A Rhode Island federal judge has ruled students in the state have no constitutional right to a civics education, even as he warned of a “deep flaw” in education priorities. Judge William Smith said they seem to recognize “American democracy is in peril.”

Oct 23, 2020 10:13 AM CDT

BigLaw firm resolves pay bias claim over bonuses paid at predecessor firm

Locke Lord has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve allegations that a predecessor law firm discriminated against 22 female associates by paying them lower bonuses than their male colleagues.

Oct 6, 2020 10:54 AM CDT

Supreme Court reinstates witness requirement for mail-in ballots in South Carolina

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday reinstated a South Carolina requirement for voters who use mail-in ballots to obtain the signature of a witness.

Oct 6, 2020 9:46 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Godmother feels betrayed after law firm money theft; state AG staffer probed over BLM buttons fuss

Bookkeeper accused of embezzling $740K from godmother’s law firm A former bookkeeper and office manager accused of embezzling $740,000 from a Rhode Island law firm has agreed to plead guilty in the theft, according to federal prosecutors. The defendant, 39-year-old Sarah Gaulin, was accused of taking the money from Hamel,…

Sep 14, 2020 4:45 PM CDT