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The First Circuit denied a petition for review, holding that the Board of Immigration Appeals did not abuse its discretion in denying a motion to reconsider its dismissal of an appeal from an immigration judge's denial of asylum. The petitioner failed to show her particular social group arguments met requirements for reconsideration, and her characterizations of the BIA's holding were inaccurate.
The Rhode Island Supreme Court amended state rules to address generative artificial intelligence use by attorneys and judicial officers, issuing interim guidelines. The administrative order establishes standards for AI-assisted legal work in Rhode Island courts.
The US Attorney's Office for Rhode Island announced a 67-page, 49-count indictment charging 26 alleged members and associates of the East Side and Allied Gangs Criminal Enterprise with racketeering conspiracy. The indictment alleges a pattern of violence, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and fraud schemes dating back to at least 2013 in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. Charges include murder, attempted murder, robbery, and COVID-19 relief fraud. Three additional defendants face related charges.
Chief US District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. publicly rebuked ICE officials in a letter stating that prosecutors' failure to disclose information about Bryan Rafael Gómez's homicide warrant "resulted in harm to Judge DuBose, to the Court and to the public trust in the judiciary." McConnell's letter followed an investigation that found Assistant US Attorney Kevin Bolan violated his duty of candor after ICE instructed him not to disclose the warrant. DHS had publicly criticized Judge DuBose for releasing Gómez on bond, unaware he was wanted for homicide.
Sharon Nevitt filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Newport County Superior Court against the Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club following the June 2025 death of her 15-year-old daughter Kelly. The seven-page complaint alleges the club knew or should have known the exterior stairway was unsafe when it collapsed during a graduation party, killing Kelly and injuring three others. The suit alleges negligence in maintenance and inspection of the premises.
Former House Speaker Joe Shekarchi has filed a motion to dismiss the Rhode Island Ethics Commission complaint alleging his Rhode Island Supreme Court application violates the state's revolving door rule. The Commission voted June 2 to advance the complaint filed by former Roger Williams Law Dean Michael Yelnosky. The Commission's June 23 agenda includes a hearing on Shekarchi's motion to dismiss and an executive session on the matter. Shekarchi declined to provide a copy of the motion and referred questions to his attorney.
The Center to Advance Security in America filed a judicial misconduct complaint with the First Circuit Court of Appeals against US District Judge Mary S. McElroy, accusing her of improper attacks on Justice Department attorneys in a dispute over federal subpoenas for transgender-related medical records from Rhode Island Hospital. The complaint alleges McElroy made false statements and vindictively referred DOJ attorneys to disciplinary proceedings. The dispute arose from a nationwide DOJ investigation into hospitals providing gender-transition procedures to minors.
USCIS filed a Notice of Appeal on June 12, 2026, seeking First Circuit Court of Appeals review of Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr.'s June 5 decision in Dorcas International Institute v. USCIS. The district court had vacated USCIS policies that paused immigration benefit applications for nationals from 39 countries, finding the agency used pretextual national security concerns masking anti-immigrant bias. USCIS announced compliance with the order while simultaneously appealing, creating uncertainty for thousands of applicants.
Washington County Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter sentenced Frank Thies, 70, to two consecutive life sentences for first-degree child molestation and first-degree sexual assault. A jury convicted Thies in December after DNA evidence from genetic genealogy matched him to 1987 crimes in Exeter. The cold case was reopened in 2019 using genetic genealogy advancements.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of Jerry Omar Rodríguez-Reyes's motion to reduce his life sentence under the First Step Act. The appeals court found the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying sentence reduction despite Rodríguez's arguments about eligibility. The decision involved consideration of 18 USC §3553(a) sentencing factors.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Puerto Rico's broad discharge and injunction under PROMESA does not apply to claims against Commonwealth officers or employees in their personal capacities. The decision clarifies that personal-capacity claims are not subject to injunctions impeding prosecution following confirmation of Puerto Rico's Plan of Adjustment.
