2013 -- H 5669 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

=======

LC01679/SUB A

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - COURTS - JUDICIAL SELECTION

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Palangio, Tomasso, Chippendale, and Hull

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2013

     Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 8-16.1-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-16.1 entitled "Judicial

1-2

Selection" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     8-16.1-6. Nomination and appointment of judges. [Repealed effective June 30, 2013.]

1-4

Nomination and appointment of judges [Repealed effective June 30, 2014.] -- (a) (1) The

1-5

governor shall immediately notify the commission of any vacancy or prospective vacancy of a

1-6

judge of any state court other than the Rhode Island supreme court. The commission shall

1-7

advertise for each vacancy and solicit prospective candidates and shall consider names submitted

1-8

from any source. Within ninety (90) days of any vacancy the commission shall publicly submit

1-9

the names of not less than three (3) and not more than five (5) highly qualified persons for each

1-10

vacancy to the governor.

1-11

      (2) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any individual whose name was

1-12

publicly submitted to the governor by the commission as described in subsection (1) above, shall

1-13

also be eligible for subsequent nomination by the governor for any vacancy or prospective

1-14

vacancy of a judge in the same court for which that particular individual had previously applied

1-15

except for a vacancy in the position of presiding justice, chief justice, or chief judge.

1-16

      (3) Such individuals shall remain eligible for nomination to fill any vacancy or

1-17

prospective vacancy within the same court to which they previously applied for a period of five

1-18

(5) years from the date their name or names were publicly submitted to the governor by the

1-19

commission unless such individuals withdraw from future consideration in writing to the judicial

1-20

nominating commission. However, such individuals must reapply for any subsequent vacancy or

2-1

prospective vacancy in the same court for the position of presiding justice, chief justice, or chief

2-2

judge.

2-3

      (4) Subject to the eligibility requirements set forth above, the governor shall fill any

2-4

vacancy of any judge of the Rhode Island superior court, family court, district court, workers'

2-5

compensation court, or any other state court which the general assembly may from time to time

2-6

establish, by nominating one of the three (3) to five (5) highly qualified persons forwarded to him

2-7

or her by the commission for the court where the vacancy occurs, or by nominating another

2-8

individual who has previously applied for a vacancy or prospective vacancy within the same court

2-9

and whose name had been previously publicly submitted to the governor within the previous five

2-10

(5) years.

2-11

      (b) The governor shall fill any vacancy within twenty-one (21) days of the public

2-12

submission by the commission.

2-13

      (c) Each nomination shall be delivered forthwith to the secretary of the senate for

2-14

presentation to the senate, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, each nominee

2-15

shall be appointed by the governor to serve subject to the general laws. The senate shall, after

2-16

seven (7) calendar days of receipt of the nomination consider the nomination, but if the senate

2-17

fails within ninety (90) days after the submission to confirm the nominee or if the senate does not

2-18

by a majority vote of its members extend the deliberation an additional seven (7) calendar days,

2-19

the governor shall appoint some other person to fill the vacancy and shall submit his or her

2-20

appointment to the senate for confirmation in like manner until the senate shall confirm the

2-21

nomination. If the nominee is rejected by the senate, the commission shall submit a new list of

2-22

three (3) to five (5) candidates to the governor for the purpose of nomination in accordance with

2-23

this chapter. Any new list may include but need not be limited to the names of any candidates

2-24

who were previously submitted to the governor by the commission but who were not forwarded

2-25

to the senate for its advice and consent.

2-26

      (d) During the time for consideration of the nominees by the senate, the senate judiciary

2-27

committee shall conduct an investigation and public hearing on the question of the qualifications

2-28

of the nominee or nominees. At the public hearing, the testimony of every witness shall be taken

2-29

under oath and stenographic records shall be taken and maintained. Further, the senate judiciary

2-30

committee shall during the course of its investigation and hearing have the power upon majority

2-31

vote of the committee members present to issue witness subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, and

2-32

orders for the production of books, accounts, papers, records, and documents which shall be

2-33

signed and issued by the chairperson of the committee, or the person serving in his or her

2-34

capacity. All such subpoenas and orders shall be served as subpoenas in civil cases in the superior

3-1

court are served, and witnesses so subpoenaed shall be entitled to the same fees for attendance

3-2

and travel as provided for witnesses in civil cases in the superior court. If the person subpoenaed

3-3

to attend before the committee fails to obey the command of the subpoena without reasonable

3-4

cause, refuse to be sworn, or to be examined, or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or if any

3-5

person shall refuse to produce books, accounts, papers, records, and documents material to the

3-6

issue, set forth in an order duly served on him or her, the committee by majority vote of the

3-7

committee members present may apply to any justice of the superior court, for any county, upon

3-8

proof by affidavit of the fact, for a rule or order returnable in not less than two (2) nor more than

3-9

five (5) days, directing the person to show cause before the justice who made the order or any

3-10

other justice of the superior court, why he or she should not be adjudged in contempt. Upon the

3-11

return of the order, the justice before whom the matter is brought on for hearing shall examine

3-12

under oath the person, and the person shall be given an opportunity to be heard, and if the justice

3-13

shall determine that the person has refused without reasonable cause or legal excuse to be

3-14

examined or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or to produce books, accounts, papers,

3-15

records, and documents material to the issue which he or she was ordered to bring or produce, he

3-16

or she may forthwith commit the offender to the adult correctional institution, there to remain

3-17

until the person submits to do the act which he or she was so required to do, or is discharged

3-18

according to law.

3-19

      (e) The committee shall, for the purpose of investigating the qualifications of the

3-20

nominee or nominees, be furnished with a report compiled by the state police in conjunction with

3-21

the attorney general's office indicating the determinations and findings of the state police and

3-22

attorney general's office investigations concerning the background of the nominee or nominees,

3-23

and the report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

3-24

      (1) Whether the nominee has ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor

3-25

or felony in this or any other state or foreign country;

3-26

      (2) Whether the nominee has ever filed a personal bankruptcy petition or an assignment

3-27

for the benefit of creditors in this or any other state or foreign country; and whether the nominee

3-28

has ever been a partner in, held ten percent (10%) or more of stock in, or held office in any sole

3-29

proprietorship, partnership, or corporation that has been involved in bankruptcy or receivership

3-30

actions as a debtor or because of insolvency at the time the nominee was a partner in, held ten

3-31

percent (10%) or more stock in, or held office in any such sole proprietorship, partnership, or

3-32

corporation;

3-33

      (3) Whether the nominee has ever had a civil judgment rendered against him or her

3-34

arising out of an allegation of fraud, misrepresentation, libel, slander, professional negligence, or

4-1

any intentional tort in this state or any other state or foreign country;

4-2

      (4) The state police in conjunction with the attorney general's department shall provide

4-3

in their report the names and addresses of each and every source of their information.

4-4

      (f) The reports set forth in this section shall be delivered to the chairperson and members

4-5

of the senate judiciary committee in addition to the nominee or nominees only prior to the

4-6

commencement of the public hearing. Provided, however, that if the nominee or nominees

4-7

withdraw or decline the appointment prior to the public hearing then the report or reports shall be

4-8

returned to the chairperson of the judiciary committee and destroyed.

4-9

      (g) The committee shall also require a financial statement to be submitted by each

4-10

nominee, prior to the public hearing, to the chairperson of the senate judiciary committee, to

4-11

investigate each nominee to determine his or her compliance with the provisions of chapter 14 of

4-12

title 36.

4-13

      (h) Any associate justice of any state court who is appointed to serve as the chief or

4-14

presiding justice of that court on an interim basis shall retain his or her status as an associate

4-15

justice until the appointment to chief or presiding justice is made permanent.

4-16

      (i) In case a vacancy shall occur when the senate is not in session, the governor shall

4-17

appoint some person from a list of three (3) to five (5) persons submitted to the governor by the

4-18

commission to fill the vacancy until the senate shall next convene, when the governor shall make

4-19

an appointment as provided in this section.

4-20

     8-16.1-6. Nomination and appointment of judges. [Effective June 30, 2012.] --

4-21

Nomination and appointment of judges. [Effective June 30, 2014.] -- (a) The governor shall

4-22

immediately notify the commission of any vacancy or prospective vacancy of a judge of any state

4-23

court other than the Rhode Island supreme court. The commission shall advertise for each

4-24

vacancy and solicit prospective candidates and shall consider names submitted from any source.

4-25

Within ninety (90) days of any vacancy the commission shall publicly submit the names of not

4-26

less than three (3) and not more than five (5) highly qualified persons for each vacancy to the

4-27

governor. The governor shall fill any vacancy of any judge of the Rhode Island superior court,

4-28

family court, district court, workers' compensation court, or any other state court which the

4-29

general assembly may from time to time establish, by nominating one of the three (3) to five (5)

4-30

highly qualified persons forwarded to him or her by the commission for the court where the

4-31

vacancy occurs.

4-32

      (b) The governor shall fill any vacancy within twenty-one (21) days of the public

4-33

submission by the commission.

5-34

      (c) Each nomination shall be forwarded forthwith to the senate, and by and with the

5-35

advice and consent of the senate, each nominee shall be appointed by the governor to serve

5-36

subject to the general laws. The senate shall, after seven (7) calendar days of receipt of the

5-37

nomination consider the nomination, but if the senate fails within ninety (90) days after the

5-38

submission to confirm the nominee or if the senate does not by a majority vote of its members

5-39

extend the deliberation an additional seven (7) calendar days, the governor shall appoint some

5-40

other person to fill the vacancy and shall submit his or her appointment to the senate for

5-41

confirmation in like manner until the senate shall confirm the nomination. If the nominee is

5-42

rejected by the senate, the commission shall submit a new list of three (3) to five (5) candidates to

5-43

the governor for the purpose of nomination in accordance with this chapter. Any new list may

5-44

include but need not be limited to the names of any candidates who were previously submitted to

5-45

the governor by the commission but who were not forwarded to the senate for its advice and

5-46

consent.

5-47

      (d) During the time for consideration of the nominees by the senate, the senate judiciary

5-48

committee shall conduct an investigation and public hearing on the question of the qualifications

5-49

of the nominee or nominees. At the public hearing, the testimony of every witness shall be taken

5-50

under oath and stenographic records shall be taken and maintained. Further, the senate judiciary

5-51

committee shall during the course of its investigation and hearing have the power upon majority

5-52

vote of the committee members present to issue witness subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, and

5-53

orders for the production of books, accounts, papers, records, and documents which shall be

5-54

signed and issued by the chairperson of the committee, or the person serving in his or her

5-55

capacity. All such subpoenas and orders shall be served as subpoenas in civil cases in the superior

5-56

court are served, and witnesses so subpoenaed shall be entitled to the same fees for attendance

5-57

and travel as provided for witnesses in civil cases in the superior court. If the person subpoenaed

5-58

to attend before the committee fails to obey the command of the subpoena without reasonable

5-59

cause, refuse to be sworn, or to be examined, or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or if any

5-60

person shall refuse to produce books, accounts, papers, records, and documents material to the

5-61

issue, set forth in an order duly served on him or her, the committee by majority vote of the

5-62

committee members present may apply to any justice of the superior court, for any county, upon

5-63

proof by affidavit of the fact, for a rule or order returnable in not less than two (2) nor more than

5-64

five (5) days, directing the person to show cause before the justice who made the order or any

5-65

other justice of the superior court, why he or she should not be adjudged in contempt. Upon the

5-66

return of the order, the justice before whom the matter is brought on for hearing shall examine

5-67

under oath the person, and the person shall be given an opportunity to be heard, and if the justice

5-68

shall determine that the person has refused without reasonable cause or legal excuse to be

6-1

examined or to answer a legal and pertinent question, or to produce books, accounts, papers,

6-2

records, and documents material to the issue which he or she was ordered to bring or produce, he

6-3

or she may forthwith commit the offender to the adult correctional institution, there to remain

6-4

until the person submits to do the act which he or she was so required to do, or is discharged

6-5

according to law.

6-6

      (e) The committee shall, for the purpose of investigating the qualifications of the

6-7

nominee or nominees, be furnished with a report compiled by the state police in conjunction with

6-8

the attorney general's office indicating the determinations and findings of the state police and

6-9

attorney general's office investigations concerning the background of the nominee or nominees,

6-10

and the report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

6-11

      (1) Whether the nominee has ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor

6-12

or felony in this or any other state or foreign country;

6-13

      (2) Whether the nominee has ever filed a personal bankruptcy petition or an assignment

6-14

for the benefit of creditors in this or any other state or foreign country; and whether the nominee

6-15

has ever been a partner in, held ten percent (10%) or more of stock in, or held office in any sole

6-16

proprietorship, partnership, or corporation that has been involved in bankruptcy or receivership

6-17

actions as a debtor or because of insolvency at the time the nominee was a partner in, held ten

6-18

percent (10%) or more stock in, or held office in any such sole proprietorship, partnership, or

6-19

corporation;

6-20

      (3) Whether the nominee has ever had a civil judgment rendered against him or her

6-21

arising out of an allegation of fraud, misrepresentation, libel, slander, professional negligence, or

6-22

any intentional tort in this state or any other state or foreign country;

6-23

      (4) The state police in conjunction with the attorney general's department shall provide

6-24

in their report the names and addresses of each and every source of their information.

6-25

      (f) The reports set forth in this section shall be delivered to the chairperson and members

6-26

of the senate judiciary committee in addition to the nominee or nominees only prior to the

6-27

commencement of the public hearing. Provided, however, that if the nominee or nominees

6-28

withdraw or decline the appointment prior to the public hearing then the report or reports shall be

6-29

returned to the chairperson of the judiciary committee and destroyed.

6-30

      (g) The committee shall also require a financial statement to be submitted by each

6-31

nominee, prior to the public hearing, to the chairperson of the senate judiciary committee, to

6-32

investigate each nominee to determine his or her compliance with the provisions of chapter 14 of

6-33

title 36.

7-34

      (h) Any associate justice of any state court who is appointed to serve as the chief or

7-35

presiding justice of that court on an interim basis shall retain his or her status as an associate

7-36

justice until the appointment to chief or presiding justice is made permanent.

7-37

      (i) In case a vacancy shall occur when the senate is not in session, the governor shall

7-38

appoint some person from a list of three (3) to five (5) persons submitted to the governor by the

7-39

commission to fill the vacancy until the senate shall next convene, when the governor shall make

7-40

an appointment as provided in this section.

7-41

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall be applied retroactively to

7-42

June 30 June 29, 2013. For purposes of providing clarity, the expressed legislative intent of this

7-43

act is that any individual on a list of judicial candidates as of June 30 June 29, 2013, shall remain

7-44

on that list until June 30, 2014, unless that individual is actually confirmed as a judge prior to

7-45

June 30, 2014.

     

=======

LC01679/SUB A

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - COURTS - JUDICIAL SELECTION

***

8-1

     This act would make any individual whose name was publicly submitted to the governor

8-2

by the judicial nominating commission, eligible for subsequent nomination by the governor until

8-3

June 30, 2014, for any vacancy or prospective vacancy of a judge in the same court for which that

8-4

particular individual had previously applied except for a vacancy in the position of presiding

8-5

justice, chief justice, or chief judge.

8-6

     This act would take effect upon passage and would be applied retroactively to June 30,

8-7

2013. For purposes of providing clarity, the expressed legislative intent of this act is that any

8-8

individual on a list of judicial candidates as of June 30, 2013, would remain on that list until June

8-9

30, 2014, unless that individual were actually confirmed as a judge prior to June 30, 2014.

     

     

=======

LC01679/SUB A

=======

H5669A