A comprehensive, twenty-seven chapter manual, A Practical Guide to Superior Court Practice in Rhode Island starts with an introduction to the organization of the Rhode Island Superior Court and then goes on to first address civil topics and then to address criminal topics. Civil topics include preparing pleadings, motion practice, declaratory judgment actions, ADR, voir dire, postjudgment motions, and zoning appeals—plus more. Criminal topic highlights include the felony charging process, bail, dealing with the media in high-profile criminal cases, sentencing, probation violation hearings, parole board practice, and postconviction relief.
Table of Contents
Chapter 01 - IntroductionHon. Patricia A. Hurst,
Rhode Island Superior Court
Chapter 02 - Preparing Pleadings
Cassandra L. Feeney, Esq.,
Hamel, Waxler, Allen & Collins, PC
Chapter 03 - Civil Motion Practice
Christopher Alger, Esq.,
Alger Law LLC
Melody A. Alger, Esq.,
Alger Law LLC
Exhibit 3A - Rule 5 of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure
Exhibit 3B - June 2023 Civil Motion Calendar Protocols
Exhibit 3C - Rule 37 of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure
Exhibit 3D - Remote Hearing Protocols
Chapter 04 - Special Proceedings on the Formal and Special Cause Calendar
James P. Marusak, Esq.,
Gidley, Sarli & Marusak LLP
Chapter 05 - Declaratory Judgment Actions
John M. Boland, Esq.,
Reynolds, DeMarco & Boland Ltd.
Mark T. Reynolds, Esq.,
Reynolds, Demarco & Boland Ltd
Chapter 06 - Rhode Island Superior Court Business Calendar
W. Mark Russo, Esq.,
Ferrucci Russo PC
Exhibit 6A - Administrative Order No. 2011-10
Exhibit 6B - Business Calendar Assignment Worksheet
Chapter 07 - Alternate Dispute Resolution
Peter Lawson Kennedy, Esq.,
Peter Lawson Kennedy Law
Carol A. Zangari, Esq.,
Law Offices of Carol A. Zangari
Chapter 08 - Preparing for Trial
Michael J. Colucci, Esq.,
Olenn & Penza, LLP
J. Renn Olenn, Esq.,
Holly R. Rao, Esq.,
Olenn & Penza, LLP
Chapter 09 - Voir Dire
Amato A. DeLuca, Esq.,
DeLuca & Associates, Ltd
Exhibit 9A - Motion for Use of the Struck System
Exhibit 9B - Motion for Individual Voir Dire
Exhibit 9C - Juror Questionnaire
Chapter 10 - The Trial as Art
John T. Mulcahy, Esq.,
U.S. Attorney's Office
Todd D. White, Esq.,
Chapter 11 - Postjudgment Motions and Appeals
James Lee, Esq.,
Chapter 12 - Default, Proof of Damages, and Entry of Final Judgment in Defaulted Cases
William J. Conley, Jr., Esq.,
Law Office of William J. Conley
Chapter 13 - Postjudgment Proceedings in Aid of Collection of Judgments
Lynda L. Laing, Esq.,
Strauss, Factor, Laing & Lyons
Chapter 14 - Zoning Appeals
Megan Maciasz DiSanto, Esq.,
The City of Providence, Solicitors Office
Chapter 15 - Rhode Island Criminal Practice: An Overview
Jeffrey M. Biolchini, Esq.,
Ratcliffe Harten Galamaga LLP
J. Richard Ratcliffe, Esq.,
Ratcliffe Harten Galamaga LLP
Exhibit 15A - Client Intake Form - Criminal Matter
Exhibit 15B - Fee Agreement
Exhibit 15C - Proffer Letter
Exhibit 15D - Stipulation of Authenticity of Documents
Exhibit 15E - Defendant’s Motion for Bill of Particulars
Exhibit 15F - Defendant’s Motion for Discovery and Inspection
Exhibit 15G - Defendant’s Request for Discovery
Exhibit 15H - Defendant’s Motion for Issuance of Subpoena
Exhibit 15I - Defendant’s Motion for Certificate of Materiality to Secure Attendance of Out-of-State Witness
Exhibit 15J - Defendant’s Certificate of Materiality to Secure Attendance of Out-of-State Witness
Exhibit 15K - Defendant’s Subpoena to Secure Attendance of Out-of-State Witness
Exhibit 15L - Community Confinement Agreement
Chapter 16 - The Felony Charging Process, Charging Instruments, Arraignment, and Bail
Eric A. Batista, Esq.,
Indeglia & Associates
Chapter 17 - Bail
John L. Calcagni, III., Esq.,
Law Office of John L. Calcagni, III
Chapter 18 - Criminal Discovery Practice
Rebecca L. Aitchison,
Federal Public Defender's Office
Chapter 19 - Rule 11 Pleas
John L. Calcagni, III., Esq.,
Law Office of John L. Calcagni, III
Chapter 20 - Media Issues and High-Profile Cases
Thomas G. Briody, Esq.,
Law Offices of Thomas G. Briody
Exhibit 20A - Rule 3.6 of the Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct - Trial Publicity
Chapter 21 - Trial Presentation and Evidentiary Issues in Criminal Trials
Pamela E. Chin, Esq.,
Lynch & Pine, LLC
Chapter 22 - End of Trial in Criminal Cases
Michael A. DiLauro, Esq.,
Rhode Island Department of Public Defender
Checklist 22.1 - Rhode Island Bail Guidelines, Rules (BGR), and Arguments
Checklist 22.2 - Daubert Pretrial Admissibility Hearings Under Rhode Island Law
Checklist 22.3 - Expungement: Who, When, Why & How
Checklist 22.4 - Sealing: Who, When, Why & How
Checklist 22.5 - Objections at Trial
Checklist 22.6 - Common Evidentiary Foundations
Checklist 22.7 - Motions in Limine
Checklist 22.8 - Voir Dire
Exhibit 22A - Sample Objection to the Court’s Failure to Give Jury Instruction Requested by the Defense
Exhibit 22B - Sample Objection to the Charge
Exhibit 22C - Sample Requests for Jury Instructions
Exhibit 22D - Sample Requests in Bench Trial
Exhibit 22E - Sample Cautionary Instruction Following Denial of a Motion to Pass Based on Improper Closing Argument by the State
Chapter 23 - Sentencing in Superior Court
Christopher S. Gontarz, Esq.,
Lynch & Pine, LLC
Exhibit 23A - Request to Enter Plea of Nolo Contendere or Guilty
Chapter 24 - Postverdict Motions and Appeals in Criminal Cases
Thomas M. Dickinson, Esq.,
Law Offices of Thomas Dickinson
John A. MacFadyen, III, Esq.,
Chapter 25 - Probation Violation Hearings
John E. MacDonald, Esq.,
Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc.
Chapter 26 - Parole Board Practice
Victoria M. Almeida, Esq.,
Adler, Pollock & Sheehan, PC
Laura Pisaturo,
RI Parole Board
Chapter 27 - Postconviction Relief
Judy Davis, Esq.,
Author(s)
Editor(s)Christopher S. Gontarz, Esq.,
Lynch & Pine, LLC, Providence
Hon. Patricia A. Hurst,
Rhode Island Superior Court, Providence
Author(s)
Rebecca L. Aitchison,
Federal Public Defender's Office, Providence
Christopher Alger, Esq.,
Alger Law LLC, Providence
Melody A. Alger, Esq.,
Alger Law LLC, Providence
Victoria M. Almeida, Esq.,
Adler, Pollock & Sheehan, PC, Providence
Eric A. Batista, Esq.,
Indeglia & Associates, Warwick
Jeffrey M. Biolchini, Esq.,
Ratcliffe Harten Galamaga LLP, Providence
John M. Boland, Esq.,
Reynolds, DeMarco & Boland Ltd., Providence
Thomas G. Briody, Esq.,
Law Offices of Thomas G. Briody, Providence
John L. Calcagni, III., Esq.,
Law Office of John L. Calcagni, III, Providence
Pamela E. Chin, Esq.,
Lynch & Pine, LLC, Providence
Michael J. Colucci, Esq.,
Olenn & Penza, LLP, Warwick
William J. Conley, Jr., Esq.,
Law Office of William J. Conley, Providence
Judy Davis, Esq.,
Rumford
Amato A. DeLuca, Esq.,
DeLuca & Associates, Ltd, Providence
Thomas M. Dickinson, Esq.,
Law Offices of Thomas Dickinson, Johnston
Michael A. DiLauro, Esq.,
Rhode Island Department of Public Defender, Providence
Megan Maciasz DiSanto, Esq.,
The City of Providence, Solicitors Office, Providence
Cassandra L. Feeney, Esq.,
Hamel, Waxler, Allen & Collins, PC, Providence
Christopher S. Gontarz, Esq.,
Lynch & Pine, LLC, Providence
Hon. Patricia A. Hurst,
Rhode Island Superior Court, Providence
Peter Lawson Kennedy, Esq.,
Peter Lawson Kennedy Law, Cranston
Lynda L. Laing, Esq.,
Strauss, Factor, Laing & Lyons, Providence
James Lee, Esq.,
Richmond
John E. MacDonald, Esq.,
Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc., Providence
John A. MacFadyen, III, Esq.,
Westport
James P. Marusak, Esq.,
Gidley, Sarli & Marusak LLP, Providence
John T. Mulcahy, Esq.,
U.S. Attorney's Office, Boston
J. Renn Olenn, Esq.,
Laura A. Pisaturo, Esq.,
Cranston
Holly R. Rao, Esq.,
Olenn & Penza, LLP, Warwick
J. Richard Ratcliffe, Esq.,
Ratcliffe Harten Galamaga LLP, Providence
Mark T. Reynolds, Esq.,
Reynolds, Demarco & Boland Ltd, Providence
W. Mark Russo, Esq.,
Ferrucci Russo PC, Providence
Todd D. White, Esq.,
Carol A. Zangari, Esq.,
Law Offices of Carol A. Zangari, Warwick
