Supreme Court Justice Indeglia to Retire, Sets Up First Vacancy in Nearly a Decade

Supreme Court Justice Indeglia to Retire, Sets Up First Vacancy in Nearly a Decade

Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Gilbert Indeglia, who joined the court in 2010, is stepping down.

The former South Kingstown Republican legislator was nominated to the Supreme Court by Governor Donald Carcieri, confirmed by the General Assembly, and sworn in on April 28, 2010.

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After his time as a legislator and before his appointment the Supreme Court, he served as an Associate Justice of the Superior Court from 2000 to 2010, and as an Associate Judge of the District Court from 1989 to 2000.

The Supreme Court vacancy creates a massive political football between Governor Gina Raimondo and legislative leaders.

This is Raimondo’s first opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court Justice.

 

Selection Process

Candidates for the position can submit their name to the Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission is chaired by former top aide to Governor Edward DiPrete, Sally Dowling, who for many years served as the managing partner of Adler Pollock & Sheehan.

Other members of the Commission include Mary Shekarchi -- the sister of House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi and former GOP legislator Scott Rabideau.

Raimondo then selects from the Commission's finalists.

Raimondo submits her selection to the General Assembly -- both the House and Senate must confirm Raimondo's nomination.

 

Indeglia's Service

He was born in Providence and educated at Classical High School. He graduated from Boston College cum laude in 1963 and the University of Michigan Law School with distinction in 1966. After admission to the Rhode Island and federal bars, he began his practice of law as a staff attorney in the Office of Economic Opportunity at Neighborhood Legal Services in Providence.

At the same time, he began six years of service in the Rhode Island Air National Guard. He moved to the firm of Abedon & Abedon in 1968, partnered in a firm with his uncle, Angelo Cianciarulo, for seven years, and then ran a solo practice for 10 years until he was appointed to the District Court. Justice Indeglia served in local government, first as probate judge and assistant town solicitor in South Kingstown from 1971 to 1973, and later as a member of the Town Council, from 1977 to 1984, serving two years as its vice president and four years as its president.

Indeglia's retirement was first reported by the Providence Journal.