The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is pleased to announce the selection of Amy E. Moses as a full-time U.S. Magistrate Judge. Ms. Moses will assume the role upon the retirement of the Honorable Lincoln D. Almond in May 2025. More information can be found here. ...
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News & Announcements
01/03/2025
The Honorable Melissa R. DuBose was sworn in today as the 25th United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island in a private ceremony presided over by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. in Courtroom 1. The event was attended by Judge DuBose’s family and court staff, commemorating the beginning of her federal judicial service. More information can...
12/31/2024
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island will be closed on Thursday, January 9th in observance of the National Day of Mourning in memory of former President James Earl Carter, Jr.
...
12/03/2024
The following amended and new rules and forms became effective December 1, 2024:
• Civil Rule 12;
• Evidence Rules 613, 801, 804, and 1006, and new Rule 107;
• Appellate Rules 32, 35, and 40, and the Appendix of Length Limits;
• Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts I through IX, Rules 1007, 4004, 5009, 7001, and 9006, and new Rule 8023.1;
• Bankruptcy Official Form 410A; and
• Bankruptcy Official Form 423 was abrogated.
Detailed...
11/29/2024
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island cordially invites you to join us for a holiday celebration in the lobby of the courthouse on December 11th from 5:00PM - 7:00PM. Please RSVP to Rana Smith at Rana_Smith@rid.uscourts.gov by December 6th. Details attached. We hope to see you there!
11/25/2024
The United States District Court for Rhode Island is thrilled to announce its 2025 CLE program: Civil Rights Litigation under 42 U.S.C. 1983. This comprehensive, free course is open to all attorneys practicing in Rhode Island and offers 12 CLE credits, including 2 ethics credits. The program will cover key aspects of civil rights litigation in federal court, including:
...
11/07/2024
The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) Clerk's Office for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is seeking applicants for the position of BAP Clerk of Court. Further details can be found here.
11/04/2024
The United States District Court for Rhode Island is excited to announce a CLE program in civil rights litigation using 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The course is free to all attorneys practicing in Rhode Island. Attendees may register for individual...
11/04/2024
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is seeking applicants for a bankruptcy judge position in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island. More information can be found here.
10/28/2024
Registration for the Litigation Academy’s Expert Witness Direct & Cross Examination Skills Program is now open! This program will provide hands-on training and lectures and will take place from December 11th – December 13th at the Courthouse. This...
10/02/2024
At its September 2022 session, the Judicial Conference approved an inflationary adjustment to the maximum per page original and copy transcript fee rates in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The below changes became effective October 1, 2024. For detailed information, please see: Notice of Increase in Transcript Page Rates
09/30/2024
Registration for the 2024 District Conference, "Guardrails of Democracy: Ensuring Access to Justice for All" is now open! This one-day program is being offered with 7.0 CLE credits (0.5 ethics). Our featured keynote speaker will be the Honorable Carlton W. Reeves, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi and the Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Seating is limited. Take advantage of a reduced rate during our early registration period that...
08/08/2024
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is aware of an ongoing scam where individuals claiming to be representatives of law enforcement attempt to acquire personal information (Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, etc.) or payment of fines or fees over the phone for failure to respond to a subpoena. In the course of these phone calls, the caller will claim that an order has been issued by...
08/06/2024
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island seeks applicants for the Court's Criminal Justice Act (CJA) attorney panel. The application period runs until September 9, 2024, and information regarding the application process can be found here.
07/19/2024
Please see the attached notice regarding the retirement of Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond effective May 2025.
07/08/2024
In recognition of the important role the Judiciary plays in assisting victims of domestic violence and in compliance with the POWER Act, we are pleased to cosponsor a virtual POWER Act event which will take place on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 1 PM (EST). Please see the attached flyer.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNVZR8R...
06/12/2024
The Local Rules and Court Practice Committee of the Court Advisory Council is requesting suggested changes to the Court's Local Rules until July 12, 2024. For additional information, click here.
06/10/2024
Veterans Legal Services, in collaboration with the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, will host a panel discussion and training for Federal Bar Association members. The program will highlight veterans’ legal issues, considerations, and resources. This event will provide an orientation on military culture for legal practitioners, identify the most common legal issues veterans face and related...
04/04/2024
Registration for the next Litigation Academy program focusing on Advanced Deposition Skills Rule 30(b)(6) is now open! The program will take place in the U.S. Courthouse in Providence, RI from May 6th - May 8th. Since this is an advanced program, applicants should have either completed the Litigation Academy's basic deposition skills program or have experience taking depositions in their practices. More information...
04/03/2024
The Court has amended LR Gen 203(c), directing members of the bar to renew their bar registration between June 1, 2024, and August 2024, and complete an attorney demographic survey. There is also a fee set for this renewal period of $30.00. Bar membership renewal will be completed using the Court's Case Management/Electronic Case...
03/11/2024
The Court has approved amendments to the Local Rules, which will become effective on April 1, 2024. For more information regarding the rule amendments, click here.
02/15/2024
In recognition of African American History Month, Judge Raymond Lohier Shares His Immigration Story and the Diverse Perspective it Brings. For more information please see below.
02/01/2024
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(b), Fed. R. Civ. P. 83(a)(1), and Fed. R. Crim. P. 57(a)(1),the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island hereby gives notice that proposed amendments to the Court’s Local Rules are being considered for adoption. Proposed Amendments can be found here. Any comments must be submitted, in writing, no later than March 1, 2024, via e-mail to...
11/28/2023
At its March and September 2023 sessions, on the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management, the Judicial Conference approved inflationary adjustments to fees on several miscellaneous fee schedules. These changes are slated to become effective December 1, 2023. Notably, the filing fee for a new civil action will increase from $402.00 to $405.00 and the filing fee for a notice of appeal will increase from $505.00 to $605.00. For more information pertaining to...
11/21/2023
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island cordially invites you to join us for a holiday celebration in the lobby of the courthouse on December 7th from 5:00PM - 7:30PM. Please RSVP to Sahira Lora at Sahira_Lora@rid.uscourts.gov by December 4th. Details attached. We hope to see you there!
11/16/2023
The Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts was created to enhance public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the Rhode Island Judiciary and to promote a fair and bias-free justice system by: 1) engaging in self-examination, education, and public outreach; 2) identifying areas of systemic racism, unconscious bias, disparate impact, and socioeconomic and other inequities; and 3) taking affirmative steps to self-monitor and combat inequities, so as to...
10/12/2023
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications for the position of Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. More information can be found here.
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications for the...
09/29/2023
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is alerting the public of several imposter scams involving individuals pretending to be court officials, U.S. marshals, or other law enforcement officers. For detailed information please see the following notice. Notice Regarding Scam Phone Calls
09/27/2023
At its September 2022 session, the Judicial Conference approved an inflationary adjustment to the maximum per page original and copy transcript fee rates as well as amended the names of four (4) transcript delivery categories. These changes are scheduled to become effective October 1, 2023. For detailed information, please see the...
09/13/2023
In recognition of the important role the Judiciary plays in assisting victims of domestic violence and in compliance with the POWER Act, we are pleased to cosponsor a virtual POWER Act event which will take place on Friday, September 22, 2023 at Noon (EST). Please see the flyer attached.
07/27/2023
The current term of office of Mildred Cabán, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Puerto Rico, is due to expire on March 16, 2024. Members of the bar and the public are invited to submit comments for consideration by the Court of Appeals regarding the reappointment. Additional information can be found here.
07/20/2023
CM/ECF filers should be aware of the potential to inadvertently share restricted documents when using third-party services or software. For additional informnation about this issue, please see the Court's notice.
06/28/2023
The Honorable William E. Smith of the United States District Court of the District of Rhode Island has advised President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. he will become a Senior Judge on January 1, 2025. More details can be found here.
06/01/2023
The Court has adopted an emergency amendment to LR Gen 112 by general order to permit the Clerk to provide a narrowcast transmission to civil proceedings held by video conference pursuant to LR Cv 78 and courtroom proceedings in civil and select criminal cases. Information regarding public access to court proceedings can be found...
05/05/2023
We are deeply saddened to report the passing of the Honorable Ronald R. Lagueux. Please find an official notice from the Court. CLICK HERE.
04/10/2023
Registration for the Litigation Academy - Deposition Skills Program is now open! This program will provide hands-on training in deposition skills and will take place from May 16 to 18, 2023. The course will be an intensive three-day program to be held at the Federal Courthouse. The faculty teaching the program will include federal and state judges, Roger Williams Law School faculty, and experienced Rhode Island trial lawyers. This program offers 13 CLE credits, including 1 ethics credit....
03/03/2023
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications for the position of Federal Public Defender for the District of Puerto Rico. More information can be found here: District of Puerto Rico Federal Public Defender Vacancy Announcement 2023.pdf (uscourts.gov)
01/05/2023
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island hereby establishes a Court Advisory Council. More details about the structure of the Council and the appointment of its members can be found below.
12/28/2022
The 2022 State of the Federal Court address from Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. can be found here.
11/15/2022
The Court will establish an Advisory Council that will be comprised of 15-20 litigators in the federal court for the purposes of helping the Court to effectively and efficiently administer justice. The Court has decided to restructure our committee structure into a single Council that will serve as a vehicle for litigators to have input into court administration, and as a vehicle for the Court to hear from the Bar. ...
11/14/2022
This year’s inaugural Olin W. Thompson, III Justice Award is proudly presented to Bob Mann. The Olin W. Thompson, III Justice Award was established to recognize and honor outstanding professionals in the legal community who serve with great distinction as a model of civility in the pursuit of justice and who have made significant contributions to the profession and the community. More information can be found...
11/08/2022
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Roger Williams University School of Law and the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, announces that the next program of the Litigation Academy, “Oral Advocacy in Court” will take place on December 20-21, 2022, at the United...
10/06/2022
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is seeking applications from qualified criminal defense attorneys for membership on the District's Criminal Justice Act Panel. For additional information on the application process, click here.
09/20/2022
Registration for the 2022 District Court Conference, "Racial and Social Justice in the Federal Courts" featuring keynote speaker, Fred Gray is now open! 7.0 CLE credits, including 1 ethics offered. Seating is limited. Take advantage of a reduced rate during our early registration period that will remain open through October 3, 2022. Normal rates will apply thereafter. More information, including a full agenda, can be found on the registration page which can be found below.
...
09/19/2022
It is with great honor and appreciation that the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island announces the creation of the Olin W. Thompson, III Justice Award. More information can be found here.
05/23/2022
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in conjunction with the District Conference Planning Committee, is excited to announce that the 2022 District Conference, “Racial and Social Justice in the Federal Courts,” will take place on Friday, October 28, 2022. More details to follow.
03/14/2022
Pursuant to LR Gen 113(d), Fed. R. Civ. P. 83(a)(1), and 28 U.S.C. §2071(e), the Court hereby amends LR Gen 112(a) and adds a new rule, LR Cv 78. The Court will take steps to formally modify LR Gen 112 and LR Cv 78 during the next local rules review cycle. The General Order can be found here.
03/01/2022
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is pleased to announce the resumption of normal operations and the reopening of the Clerk’s office for in-person filings and inquiries beginning March 7, 2022. The Clerk’s office will be open normal business hours, Monday – Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. More information about our reopening including visitation protocols can be found here...
01/03/2022
The 2022 Bar Registration Renewal Period is now open and will run until March 31, 2022. Members of the bar of this Court seeking to maintain an active bar status should renew their bar registration electronically using the Court's Case Management/Electronic Case Files ("CM/ECF") system. Instructions for completing the bar membership renewal process electronically...
12/20/2021
Due to the rapid increase of infection in the coummity the Court will close it's Clerk's Office once again effective December 20, 2021. Detailed information can be found here.
12/20/2021
Due to the rapid increase of infection in the community, the Clerk's Office will once again close to the public. Detailed information on how to contact the Court can be found here.
12/20/2021
In accordance with LR Gen 203(c), members of the bar of this Court shall renew their bar registration between January 3, 2022, and March 31, 2022. The fee for 2022 has been waived by the Court. For additional information regarding the upcoming bar membership renewal period, please review the Court's Notice.
12/02/2021
Please see the Court's notice for information regarding public access to trial proceedings in United States of America v. Jenyo.
10/24/2021
Please see the Court's notice for information regarding public access to trial proceedings in United States of America v. Jenyo.
10/15/2021
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is seeking applications from qualified criminal defense attorneys for membership on the District’s Criminal Justice Act Panel. For additional information regarding the application process, click here.
10/14/2021
Please see link below for details regarding a U.S. Magiatrate Judge vacancy for the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, New Haven Division.
Public Notice & Application: U.S. Magistrate Judge for New Haven Division
10/12/2021
Beginning on October 13, 2021, and continuing for the duration of the trial in the case of United States of America v. Kayode, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will provide public access to the trial by Zoom video hearing. For details, see the Court's notice.
08/19/2021
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will be upgrading its Case Management/Electronic Case Files ("CM/ECF") system over the weekend to the Next Generation of CM/ECF. Public Filers should ensure their account is ready for this upgrade. Detailed information can be found HERE. The ECF system will be unavailable from noon Friday, August 20, 2021 until 8:00 A.M. on Monday, August 23, 2021. Filers needing to...
08/06/2021
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Court) is seeking quotes for a one-year leased parking agreement. Please quote the monthly charge per parking space.
COVERAGE PERIOD: September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022
07/31/2021
Beginning August 2, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is pleased to announce several staffing changes which include the hiring of three new employees that will help support and promote the Court’s mission and the updating of case management support for the Court’s District Judges. For more information please see the following notice.
07/19/2021
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications for the position of Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. More information can be found here.
07/19/2021
The Court has issued a new General Order Regarding Courthouse Access and the Continuity of Operations. All visitors must adhere to one personal mitigation measure to enter the Courthouse. The court will continue to observe several mitigation measures. Finally there may be situations in which multple personal mitigation measures will be required as outlined in the order. More information can be found here....
07/15/2021
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has given notice that it is commencing forfeiture proceedings against the F/V Reel Screamer. Please click here for addditional details.
06/28/2021
The current term of office of David Beneman, Federal Public Defender for the District of Maine, is due to expire on December 29, 2021. The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is considering the reappointment of David Beneman to a new four-year term of office subject to public notice and opportunity for public comment. Members of the bar and the public are invited to submit comments by Monday, August 16, 2021. More information is available by ...
06/11/2021
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is seeking applications for a Case Administrator in the Clerk's Office. If you are interested in joining the Court, please click here for additional details about the position. The position is open until July 2, 2021 (or until filled.)
06/04/2021
Beginning on June 7, 2021, and continuing for the duration of the trial in the case of United States v. Huling, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will provide public access to the trial. Please see the Court's notice...
05/30/2021
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will be reopening the Clerk's Office to the public beginning on June 1, 2021, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. For additional information regarding the reopening and entering the Courthouse please click on the hyperlinks below.
Notice Regarding the Reopening of the Clerk's Office
...
04/28/2021
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications to serve on the court's Criminal Justice Act ("CJA") Panel including: (1) applications from attorneys not currently on the panel; and (2) reapplications from panel members whose terms expire on September 30, 2021. More information is available here.
03/22/2021
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode island is upgrading its CM/ECF software to the Next Generation (“NextGen”) of CM/ECF on August 23, 2021. CM/ECF (for the “Case Management/Electronic Case Filing” system) is the federal judiciary’s comprehensive online case management system for all appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. NextGen is the culmination of a multi-year project headed by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to provide for the...
01/28/2021
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island will conduct all trials and all phases of trial from empanelment to deliberation in civil actions via the zoomgov.com platform until further notice. If you have a case or controversy that is ready for trial and would like to pursue a zoom jury trial during this pandemic, please contact the Court to schedule a conference to discuss. Click...
01/20/2021
The First Circuit Court of Appeals is seeking applicants for a bankruptcy judge position for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico in Ponce. More information is available here.
01/13/2021
Members of the federal bar,
Please join us for our third virtual town hall meeting Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 3:30pm-4:30pm. The Judges will discuss the way forward with continued virtual operations, any changes or developments as well as take questions from the bar. To submit your questions ahead of time, please email Frank_Perry@rid.uscourts.gov with the subject ‘Question for Town Hall.' The zoom...
01/13/2021
The Court has issued a series of General Orders related to the Continuity of Operations During the Coronavirus Pandemic and other matters that can be found below.
12/30/2020
The 2020 State of the Federal Court address from Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. can be found here.
12/09/2020
Due to the declaration of a pandemic/public health emergency, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issues its sixth general order regarding the continutiy of operations. Click here for more information.
12/07/2020
In the interests of the efficient and effective administration of justice in civil actions and as part of reasonable public health measures taken to assist with minimizing the spread of COVID-19 during this surge in the pandemic, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island will conduct all trials and all phases of trial from empanelment to deliberation in civil actions via the zoomgov.com platform until further notice. More information can be ...
11/24/2020
At its March 2020 session, on the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management, the Judicial Conference approved inflationary adjustments to fees on the district court miscellaneous fee schedule. These changes are scheduled to become effective December 1, 2020.Click here for more details.
11/02/2020
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is seeking applications from qualified criminal defense attorneys for membership on the District’s Criminal Justice Act Panel. For more information,...
09/25/2020
In response to the spread of the COVID-19, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued the following order regarding courthouse visitation and access restrictions to the United States Courthouse and the portion of the John O. Pastore Building occupied by the Court. Click here for more information.
09/22/2020
Due to the declaration of a pandemic/public health emergency, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issues its fifth general order regarding the continutiy of operations. Click here for more information.
09/22/2020
In order to administer hearings and jury trials that are scheduled to occur in the U.S. Courthouse in a fair, just, efficient and safe manner, the Court issues its General Order establishing the protocol for such matters that are scheduled to take place within the U.S. Courthouse. Click here for more information.
09/14/2020
On September 24, 2020, the Federal District Court is partnering with Roger Williams University American Indian Student Association and the United States Attorney’s Office to provide a 2-hour virtual symposium dedicated to information and instruction on domestic violence and trafficking specifically involving indigenous women. For additional details about the program, click here.
The symposium will begin at 12:00 PM and...
09/14/2020
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is soliciting quotations for the purchase and installation of a modular office/wall system to be installed on the 4th floor of the Federal Courthouse.
Please see link below for further details.
08/26/2020
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Court) is seeking Open Market quotes for (17) Microsoft Surface Laptop 3's or equivalent. Please see link below for further details.
06/30/2020
The Judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island have reappointed Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond to a new eight-year term commencing September 10, 2020, and Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan to a new eight-year term commencing October 1, 2020 upon the recommendation of a Merit Selection Panel appointed pursuant to the Order dated January 6, 2020. More information can be found here.
06/29/2020
Due to the declaration of a pandemic/public health emergency, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issues its fourth general order regarding the continutiy of operations. Click Here for more information.
06/26/2020
The Federal Judiciary is happy to announce the launch of the Judiciary’s redesigned PACER information website which can be found here. The website, which will launch on June 28, 2020, provides a wide range of resources and information about PACER and electronic public access services to the public, as well as easy access to PACER and PACER-related applications. New features include:
• Mobile friendly design;
• New tool to search for...
06/18/2020
The Honorable Mary M. Lisi, Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, has been designated to assist the Court during the period beginning on June 15, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. Judge Lisi will not be...
06/10/2020
Attorney Zoom Training – June 17th, June 24th and July 1st
This 1.5-...
05/22/2020
The Court has issued the follow General Order regarding Depositions in civil cases during the Coronavirus Pandemic. For more information, please click here.
05/06/2020
Due to the declaration of a pandemic/public health emergency, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issues its third general order regarding the continutiy of operations. Click here for more information.
05/06/2020
As outlined in this Court’s prior General Orders regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the current public health crisis surrounding the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 is causing and is expected to continue to cause significant disruption throughout the District of Rhode Island. As a result, the Court has a need to clarify the application of certain rules with respect to signatures on documents. Click here for more information. ...
04/29/2020
Letter from the Judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island providing important information about the operation of the Court in light of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Letter can be found here.
04/16/2020
In response to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, counsel for persons detained at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility (“Wyatt”) have filed applications for release in individual cases pending in this District. A primary basis cited in each of these applications is the risk of contracting COVID-19 because of their continued confinement. Persons at Wyatt are primarily pre-trial detainees under a contract with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and immigration detainees under contract...
04/07/2020
The Court has issued the following General Order shortening the response and reply times to emergency motions filed citing COVID-19 as grounds for the relief sought pursuant to LR Cv 7(a)(3) and LR Cr 47(a)(3). For more information please click here.
04/01/2020
In our continued effort to serve the public effectively and efficiently during the COVID-19 pandemic, the public will be able to listen to Court hearings by dialing into judge specific phone numbers. For more information please click here
03/30/2020
The following amended general order shall apply to all criminal matters in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The Court finds that a public health crisis exists, and it is in the best interest of the Defendants, their attorneys, court staff, U.S. Marshals Service and the public that human contact be minimized to the greatest extent. Please click here for more information.
03/27/2020
The Court has issued a general order regarding the submission of interim CJA vouchers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The general order can be found here.
03/21/2020
The Court finds that a public health crisis exists, and it is in the best interest of the Defendants, their attorneys, court staff, U.S. Marshals Service and the public that human contact be minimized to the greatest extent. Therefore, the following order shall apply to all criminal matters in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Please click here for more information.
03/19/2020
Due to the declaration of a pandemic/public health emergency, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issues its second general order effective Friday, March 20, 2020 regarding the continutiy of operations restricting public access to the section of the John O. Pastore building that is occupied by the court. Click here for more information.
03/18/2020
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island wants to assure the public that we are 100% operational. While public access to our physical facility will be limited due to the public health guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and local health officials, we are heeding the social distancing recommendations but employees continue the important work of justice via telework computing. More information can be...
03/13/2020
Due to the declaration of a pandemic/public health emergency, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issues the following order effective Monday, March 16, 2020 regarding the continutiy of operations. Please click here for details.
03/13/2020
In response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus (cononavirus), the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued the following order restricting access to the United States Courthouse and the portion of the John O. Pastore Building occupied by the Court. Please click here for details.
03/02/2020
In light of the recent announcements from the Rhode Island Department of Health regarding the COVID-19/Coronavirus, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island would like to assure the public that we are following all recommended guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure the safety and health of our customers and staff. Please note the...
02/25/2020
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will provide a number of educational opportunities for members of the bar. The first event is a Lunch and Learn to Meet Judge Mary S. McElroy on March 26, 2020. If you have questions about these educational programs, contact Rana_Smith@rid.uscourts.gov (link sends e-mail)...
02/20/2020
The Local Rules Review Committee of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a Request for Suggested Changes to the Local Rules. Information about submitting a suggested change to the Local Rules can be found here...
01/17/2020
The Court's Case Management/Electronic Case Files ("CM/ECF") system will be down for server maintenance from Saturday, January 18th at 8:00 a.m. through Sunday January 19th at noon. In case of a litigation-related emergency during this period, please call (401) 752-7099 and leave a message that includes your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and the nature of your emergency. A Clerk’s Office staff member will return your call promptly.
01/06/2020
The current terms of United States Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond and United States Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan are due to expire on September 9, 2020, and September 30, 2020, respectively. As required by law, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has established a Merit Selection Panel to consider the reappointment of United States Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond and United States Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan to an eight (8) year term. ...
01/06/2020
The current terms of United States Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond and United States Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan are due to expire on September 9, 2020, and September 30, 2020, respectively.
As required by law, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has established a Merit Selection Panel to consider the reappointment of United States Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond and United States Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan to an eight (8) year...
12/31/2019
In observance of the holiday, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will close on December 31st at 2 p.m. and remain closed on January 1, 2020. In case of a litigation-related emergency during this period, please call (401) 752-7099 and leave a message that includes your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and the nature of your emergency...
12/19/2019
In observance of the Christmas holiday, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will be closed on December 24th and December 25th and re-open to the public on December 26th. In case of a litigation-related emergency during this period, please call (401) 752-7099 and leave a message that includes your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and...
12/16/2019
Due to the winter weather advisory, the Court will open Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 10:00 am. In case of a litigation-related emergency during this period, please call (401) 752-7099 and leave a message that includes your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and the nature of your emergency. A Clerk’s Office staff member will return your call promptly. The public is reminded that electronic filing will be available through the Court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF...
12/02/2019
Due to the winter weather advisory, the Court will open Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at noon. In case of a litigation-related emergency during this period, please call (401) 752-7099 and leave a message that includes your name, a phone number where you can be reached, and the nature of your emergency. A Clerk’s Office staff member will return your call promptly. The public is reminded that electronic filing will be available through the Court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF)...
12/01/2019
Effective December 1, 2019, the Honorable John J. McConnell, Jr. assumed the position of Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. For more information, please click here
11/25/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has approved amendments to the Local Rules effective December 1, 2019. The order adopting the amendments, along with the amended rules, can be found...
10/24/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Roger Williams University School of Law and the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, is proud to announce its comprehensive hands-on deposition skills training program.
This program will provide hands-on training in deposition skills and will take place from December 11 to 13, 2019. The course will be an intensive three-day program to be held at the Federal Courthouse in...
10/17/2019
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2071(b), Fed. R. Civ. P. 83(a)(1), and Fed. R. Crim. P. 57(a)(1), the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island gives notice that proposed amendments to the Court’s Local Rules are being considered for adoption. Any comments must be submitted, in writing, no later than November 15, 2019, via e-mail to Local_Rules@rid.uscourts.gov or by submission to the Clerk's Office. The notice and the rules can...
10/09/2019
10/08/2019
The Honorable Mary S. McElroy is seeking a term law clerk. Please see the below vacancy announcement for information on how to apply.
10/01/2019
Chief Judge William E. Smith cordially invites members of the bar to attend the 2019 District Conference, "Independence and the Courts" scheduled to take place on Friday, October 18, 2019, at the Omni Providence Hotel. More information can be found below.
09/20/2019
The Judicial Conference doubled the quarterly fee waiver for users of the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system (PACER) from $15 to $30. This will result in more than 75 percent of the system’s users paying no fee in a given quarter. PACER provides the public with instantaneous access to virtually every document filed in every federal court. No tax dollars are expended for the operation and maintenance of PACER. Only those who use the system...
09/05/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will be closed to the public from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2019 to facilitate the attendance of court personnel at a district-wide training. Please see the attached notice for more information.
08/30/2019
We are pleased to announce that the registration for the upcoming 2019 District Conference “Independence & the Courts” is now open.
Please click here for information and to register.
08/08/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Court) is seeking quotes for a one-year leased parking agreement. Please quote the monthly charge per parking space.
COVERAGE PERIOD: September 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020
07/30/2019
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has entered into an acceptence of service agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security and the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Commissioner and the U.S. Attorney have agreed to accept the summons and complaint as outlined in Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A, B, and C) in actions filed pursuant to § 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) by electronic means via the Court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files System (“CM/ECF...
07/15/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island adopted its revised Jury Selection Plan on May 9, 2019, and the First Circuit Judicial Council approved the revised plan on July 10, 2019. The revised Jury Plan can be found here.
07/11/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will host its next Lunch & Learn offering CLE credits on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ...
07/02/2019
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Quartino at lisa_quartino@...
05/24/2019
Pursuant to an agreement between the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, the Attorney General has agreed to accept service of a complaint naming the State of Rhode Island or its employees by electronic means via the Court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files System (“CM/ECF”) when the Court authorizes a plaintiff to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. §1915. More information regarding the agreement can be found...
05/24/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island revised its Criminal Justice Act Plan (“CJA Plan”) on April 5, 2019, and the First Circuit Judicial Council approved the revised CJA Plan on May 3, 2019. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §3006A(a) and the...
05/16/2019
The Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is pleased to invite all summer associates and legal interns to the 2019 Summer Associate & Legal Intern Lunch with the Federal Judges.
... 04/22/2019
Steven Sloman, Ph.D and Joachim Krueger. Ph.D will present the psychology and cognitive science of implicit bias. Registration is free and limited to the first 50 attorneys who register. 1 CLE credit offered. Register by clicking here.
04/19/2019
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will provide a number of opportunities for members of the bar to earn CLE credits in 2019. The first event is the Attorney Admissions Program on May 8, 2019. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Court's bar or have any questions about these CLE programs, contact Rana_Smith@rid.uscourts.gov. See the...
03/21/2019
Register Now ...The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Roger Williams University School of Law and the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar...
02/08/2019
The Local Rules Review Committee of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a Request for Suggested Changes to the Local Rules. Information about submitting a suggested change to the Local Rules can be found...
01/11/2019
The District Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island have recently added language to their Pretrial Scheduling Orders regarding discovery disputes. As of the date of this notice, no discovery motions shall be filed until after the party in good faith tries to resolve the matter with opposing counsel. If that does not resolve the dispute, the party must first have an informal conference with the Court, which can be arranged by contacting the judge’s case...
12/27/2018
Despite the government shutdown, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island will be open for business as usual. The federal courts currently have sufficient funds on hand to maintain normal operations through January 11, 2019. In the event of a prolonged shutdown, the Court will provide further guidance. All proceedings and deadlines will remain in effect as...
12/27/2018
11/19/2018
On November 19, 2018, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island approved 23 amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The amended local rules will become effective on December 1, 2018. The general order and approved amendments can be found here.
10/10/2018
Due to the retirement announcement of the Honorable Joan N. Feeney, Chief Judge Jeffrey R. Howard of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has announced the formation of a Bankruptcy Merit Selection Panel to screen and review applicants for the resulting bankruptcy judgeship vacancy in Boston, Massachusetts. More...
10/04/2018
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island invites public comment on proposed amendments to the Court’s Local Rules. Any comments must be submitted, in writing, no later than November 5, 2018, via e-mail to Local_Rules@rid.uscourts.gov or by submission to the Clerk's Office....
08/24/2018
The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has become aware of scam phone calls that appear to be coming from the Court’s main number, (401) 752-7200. These calls are not from the U.S. District Court, and individuals should not provide personal or financial information to callers claiming to be Court officials or law enforcement personnel. Click here for more information about phone scams
08/20/2018
Registration for the upcoming Litigation Academy “Direct & Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses” program is now open.
Please click link below:
08/15/2018
In 2018, the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure approved publication of proposed amendments to the following rules:
- Appellate Rules 35, 40;
- Bankruptcy Rules 2002, 2004, 8012;
- Civil Rule 30; and
- Evidence Rule 404.
The comment period opened August 15, 2018 and closes February 15, 2019. For more information and to read the text of the proposed amendments and supporting materials please visit:...
07/30/2018
The U.S. Marshals and the FBI are alerting the public of several nationwide imposter scams involving individuals claiming to be U.S. marshals, court officers, or other law enforcement officials. They are urging people to report the calls their local FBI office and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") which has the ability to detect patterns of fraud from the information collected and share that data with law enforcement.
During these calls, scammers...
07/27/2018
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Court) is seeking quotes for a one-year leased parking agreement. Please quote the monthly charge per parking space.
COVERAGE PERIOD: September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2019
07/24/2018
It has come to our attention that some vendors may have received the attached notice regarding annual renewal of their registration in the Systems for Award Management (SAM) database. This notice should be disregarded and is considered to be an attempt to fraudulently obtain vendor information. All vendor updates should be done by vendor employees and never a third party. This will protect their banking information and other sensitive information. It is important...
07/09/2018
The Court's CM/ECF system will be unavailable from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon on Saturday, July 14, 2018 for a hardware upgrade.
06/28/2018
The United States District Court and the United States Probation and Pretrial Services
Office for the District of Rhode Island are pleased to announce that both offices will soon launch
a newly designed website. The new design allows for a responsive and compatible layout for all
platforms with a focus on an intuitive site-wide navigation platform with improved menu
functionality.
Please click ...
06/13/2018
The Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association presents a lunch and panel discussion with our Federal Judges. The Judges will share words of wisdom and practice tips. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the Judges and network with each other.
This program is open to all summer associates and legal interns.
Please click here for more information.
03/27/2018
Register Now....The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Roger Williams University School of Law and the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, is proud to announce its comprehensive hands-on deposition skills training program.
This program will provide hands-on training in deposition skills and will take ...
11/01/2017
Pursuant to L.R. Gen 203(c)(3), the registration fee for the 2018 Bar Membership Renewal Period is established at $25.00, and the late fee is established at $40.00.