Vol. CXXXII · No. CLXXXIFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026Ocean State Edition

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Judiciary

181 articles · page 10 of 16
JudiciaryPaywall

Man Remains at Large Week After Judge Orders ICE Re-Detain Him

Bryan Rafael Gómez, an undocumented immigrant wanted on a homicide warrant in the Dominican Republic, remains missing more than a week after US District Judge Melissa R. DuBose ordered ICE to re-detain him. Gómez was initially released after the federal government failed to disclose the foreign warrant to the court. DuBose ordered his re-detention on May 5, but ICE has not located him; his attorney reports no one has been able to reach him. The case has sparked a disciplinary investigation into DOJ conduct.

bostonglobe.comMAY 14, 2026
GovernanceJudiciaryFree press

Rhode Island Senate passes bill reducing misdemeanor sentences by one day

The Rhode Island Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Acosta to reduce the maximum misdemeanor sentence from 365 to 364 days, aimed at protecting immigrants from federal detention or removal. The bill passed 33-5, with all four Senate Republicans and Sen. Leonidas Raptakis voting against. The judicial branch raised concerns about the bill's immediate effect date. This marks the sixth consecutive year the Senate has passed similar legislation.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
rhodeislandcurrent.comMAY 14, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Federal Judge Blasts DOJ for Misrepresenting Facts in Trans Youth Medical Records Case

U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy accused the Department of Justice of making "false representations" and "dirty pool" after DOJ lawyers "shopped" a case to a Texas judge to enforce a Rhode Island subpoena for transgender youth medical records. McElroy said DOJ falsely claimed Rhode Island Hospital hadn't communicated with them in months, when emails show contact two days before the Texas filing. The case is the latest clash between the District Court of Rhode Island and DOJ over transparency.

bostonglobe.comMAY 13, 2026
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

R.I. Attorney General Sues Quidnessett Country Club to Remove Unauthorized Seawall

Attorney General Peter Neronha filed a lawsuit in Superior Court seeking removal of a 600-foot unauthorized seawall built by the Quidnessett Country Club in 2023 and restoration of the coastline. Since 2023, the Coastal Resources Management Council has unsuccessfully tried to force the club to remove the wall. The club argues it has been trying for decades to protect its 14th hole from erosion and has challenged the removal order in court. Environmental groups say the slow enforcement sets a bad precedent.

bostonglobe.comMAY 13, 2026
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

Rhode Island Only State with Lifetime Supreme Court Tenure, No Mandatory Retirement Age

Rhode Island is the only state with lifetime appointments and no mandatory retirement age for its Supreme Court justices, according to a 2024 Brennan Center analysis. All 47 other states have fixed terms for state supreme court justices. Senator Dawn Euer supports imposing a mandatory retirement age, citing concerns about accountability and the example of federal courts overturning precedents with "zero accountability." The issue has returned to focus with former Speaker Shekarchi's application for a Supreme Court seat.

bostonglobe.comMAY 13, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Portsmouth Man Sentenced to Life for 2023 Hatchet Murder of Landlord

Newport County Superior Court Justice William E. Carnes sentenced Jacob Morrill, 27, of Portsmouth, to life in prison for the first-degree murder of his landlord, Xuefeng Wu, 50, whom Morrill killed with a hatchet in May 2023. Morrill was also convicted of fraudulent use of a credit card after using Wu's debit card to pay his utility bill the day of the killing. Morrill intends to appeal his conviction, arguing the court made evidentiary rulings he objected to and that there was insufficient evidence for a first-degree murder finding.

bostonglobe.comMAY 13, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Senate Committee to Consider Asking Supreme Court Opinion on Clergy Abuse Bill Constitutionality

The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a resolution asking the state Supreme Court whether legislation reviving expired civil sexual abuse claims against institutions like the Diocese of Providence is constitutional. Committee Chairman Matthew LaMountain says this is the quickest way to test constitutionality, but House Judiciary Chairwoman Carol Hagan McEntee calls it an abdication of legislative duty. Similar laws have been upheld in some states but repealed in five others. This would be the first such request in 20 years.

newenglandnewspress.comMAY 13, 2026
CommerceJudiciaryPaywall

Alex and Ani founder sues sister over alleged misuse of Cinerama assets

Carolyn Rafaelian filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging her sister Rebecca Rafaelian Caruolo misused assets of their family's decades-old jewelry business Cinerama to secretly subsidize Air & Anchor, a competing jewelry venture. The complaint claims Air & Anchor is a knock-off of Alex + Ani created through a takeover of Cinerama's factory space, equipment, inventory, and vendor relationships.

bostonglobe.comMAY 13, 2026
GovernanceJudiciaryPrimary

McKee nominates Superior Court judge Joseph A. to Rhode Island Supreme Court

Governor Dan McKee announced the nomination of current Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Joseph A. to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court. The nomination comes as House Speaker Joe Shekarchi also applies for the same seat after resigning his leadership position. The governor's office released the announcement but provided limited details on the nominee's full name or background.

governor.ri.govMAY 13, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

LAMBDA Legal files brief supporting challenge to DOJ subpoena of Rhode Island Hospital gender-care records

The nation's oldest LGBTQ+ legal rights organization filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Rhode Island Child Advocate Katelyn Medeiros's effort to quash a Department of Justice subpoena seeking medical records of minors who received gender-affirming care at Rhode Island Hospital. LAMBDA Legal argues the subpoena is a "fishing expedition" to intimidate doctors. Twenty states and DC also submitted arguments backing Medeiros. The DOJ claims the subpoena is part of a nationwide criminal investigation into off-label drug use and false billing. US District Judge Mary S. McElroy denied the DOJ's request to transfer the case to Texas.

providencejournal.comMAY 12, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

ICE unable to locate immigrant ordered re-detained by Rhode Island federal judge

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not located Bryan Rafael Gómez more than two days after US District Judge Melissa R. DuBose ordered him re-detained. Gómez, wanted for homicide in the Dominican Republic, was expected to voluntarily report to ICE in Burlington, Mass., by May 6 but failed to appear. His attorney says family members have been unable to reach him. A special counsel has been appointed to investigate why federal prosecutors withheld information about Gómez's warrant from the court.

bostonglobe.comMAY 12, 2026
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