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

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181 articles · page 8 of 16
JudiciaryFree press

RI Supreme Court disbarred attorney who pleaded guilty to $415,000 trust misappropriation

The Rhode Island Supreme Court ordered attorney Kevin Brill disbarred effective May 1 after he pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts related to misappropriating $415,000 from a trust. Brill admitted to misconduct in a sworn affidavit and has also been disbarred in Massachusetts. Under the order, he cannot petition for reinstatement for at least five years and must demonstrate full restitution.

turnto10.comMAY 26, 2026
JudiciaryCommerceFree press

Federal judge halts Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission license lottery amid lawsuit

A federal judge ordered Rhode Island's Cannabis Control Commission to pause its retail license lottery and application process following a legal challenge. Lawmakers are now considering legislation to "course correct" the state's recreational cannabis rollout, which legalized marijuana in 2022. The proposed changes would amend parts of the state's cannabis law to restart the stalled licensing process.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
wpri.comMAY 26, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

RI sues Kalshi and Polymarket over unlawful sports betting operations

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha sued prediction markets Kalshi Inc. and Polymarket in RI Superior Court, claiming their sports-event contracts violate state gambling laws. Kalshi preemptively filed in U.S. District Court (D.R.I.), arguing its event contracts are federally-regulated financial derivatives under CFTC oversight, not state gambling jurisdiction. The dueling lawsuits join similar battles in Massachusetts and other states over prediction-market sports wagering.

goupstate.comMAY 24, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

RI District Judge McElroy quashes DOJ subpoena for trans youth records

U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy on May 13 blocked the Trump administration's subpoena for confidential transgender patient records from Rhode Island Hospital. McElroy ruled the DOJ subpoena lacked a congressionally authorized purpose, was issued for an improper goal, and violated the 14th Amendment privacy rights of minors. She wrote DOJ had "proven unworthy of trust" by misrepresenting facts to courts. The DOJ appealed and the case is now entangled with a conflicting Texas court order.

rilawyersweekly.comMAY 23, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

JNC selects nine candidates for RI Superior Court seat interview

The Judicial Nominating Commission voted unanimously to interview nine of 22 applicants for the Superior Court vacancy created by Judge Joseph A. Montalbano's elevation to presiding justice. Candidates include Family Court Magistrate Denise Cassisi Finkelman, prosecutors Angelyne Cooper-Bailey and Joelle Rocha, and private practitioners. Interviews are scheduled, and the commission will provide finalists to Gov. McKee. Superior Court base salary is $205,567.

rilawyersweekly.comMAY 23, 2026
CommerceJudiciaryPaywall

Neronha sues two prediction markets for unlawful sports gambling in RI

Attorney General Peter Neronha filed suit in Providence County Superior Court May 22 against New York-based Kalshi Inc. and Polymarket, alleging their sports-related "event contracts" constitute illegal sports betting under Rhode Island law. The lawsuit claims both companies are operating unlawfully in the state without proper licensing.

pbn.comMAY 23, 2026
JudiciaryGovernancePaywall

RI Judicial Nominating Commission to interview Shekarchi, four others for Supreme Court vacancy

The Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission voted unanimously to interview former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and four other applicants—Superior Court Judge Luis Matos, Family Court Judge Laureen D'Ambra, Assistant Attorney General Christopher Bush, and attorney John Roberts—for a state Supreme Court lifetime appointment. Former Common Cause RI director H. Philip West Jr. objected, arguing Shekarchi is ineligible under the state's revolving-door statute barring legislators from judicial appointments for one year after leaving office. Interviews are set for July 28; the commission must submit three to five names to Governor McKee within 90 days of the vacancy.

bostonglobe.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

US District Judge McElroy quashes DOJ subpoena for RI Hospital transgender-youth records, cites deception

US District Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, issued a scathing opinion quashing a Justice Department administrative subpoena for names and medical records of transgender youth at Rhode Island Hospital. McElroy accused DOJ attorneys of "subterfuge," found a senior DOJ official made statements that were "at best, deceptive, if not intentionally and knowingly false," and wrote that "DOJ has proven unworthy of this trust at every point in this case." The ruling came after the RI Child Advocate filed an emergency motion alleging DOJ forum-shopped the subpoena to a friendly Texas judge while misrepresenting facts to multiple courts.

erininthemorning.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

First Circuit denies injunction blocking RI Hospital gender-care records release to Texas judge

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Rhode Island Hospital from turning over anonymized medical records of young gender-dysphoria patients to a federal judge in Northern Texas. The three-judge panel denied the RI Child Advocate's emergency request, finding no irreparable harm since the records would be held by the court—not released to adverse parties—pending appeal. The decision leaves the hospital caught between conflicting federal court orders in Rhode Island and Texas.

providencejournal.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Superior Court judge rules Newport congregation can remain in Levi Gale House near Touro Synagogue

Newport County Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter issued a 26-page decision allowing Congregation Jeshuat Israel to continue worshiping at the 19th-century Levi Gale House near Touro Synagogue. The ruling rejected claims by Congregation Shearith Israel of New York—owner of the historic synagogue—that it also owns the Gale House. The decision follows an April 2025 Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling that permitted Shearith Israel to evict Jeshuat Israel from the synagogue itself, where the group had worshiped for over a century.

bostonglobe.comMAY 21, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Senate Judiciary Committee mulls resolution seeking RI Supreme Court advisory opinion on clergy-abuse bill

The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee discussed a resolution that would ask the state Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of a proposed clergy sexual-abuse "revival window" bill. The bill would reopen expired civil claims against institutions like the Roman Catholic Church. No vote was taken Thursday; Chairman Matthew LaMountain introduced the resolution, while Attorney General Peter Neronha and retired US District Judge William Smith testified urging the Senate to vote on the bill itself rather than seek court advice.

wpri.comMAY 21, 2026
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