R.I.âs first Black Supreme Court justice is sworn in
âThe arc of the moral universe is long,â Justice Melissa A. Long says, âbut it does indeed bend toward justice.â
By Edward Fitzpatrick Globe Staff,Updated January 11, 2021, 4:45 p.m.
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Judge Melissa A. Long spoke on the steps of the Rhode Island State House after she was sworn in as the first Black justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff
PROVIDENCE â Judge Melissa A. Long on Monday became the first Black justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, saying, âThe arc of the moral universe is long, but it does indeed bend toward justice.â
A double standard for women in public sphere
Is there a double standard playing out with the appointment by Gov. Gina Raimondo of Sen. Erin Lynch Prata to the Supreme Court ( Has the revolving door reopened to state lawmakers? News, Dec. 21)? So much “revolving door” handwringing since last April when Sen. Lynch Prata applied.
When Gov. Lincoln Chafee plucked Richard Licht out of his government job to serve on the Superior Court, the revolving-door kerfuffle lasted on the front pages for about a month.
I wonder: is the handwringing because a second-term
female governor has appointed a six-term
female senator to the state’s highest court? Where is the discussion of competency and experience? Lynch Prata is a lawyer, and has been serving as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. She also wasn’t tapped because of patronage or favors; she
Dec 21, 2020
(Providence, RI) The diversity of Rhode Island s roster of judges is increasing. The state Senate approved several appointments last week including the first person of color to the Supreme Court, the first Asian-American to the Superior Court and the first Latina to the Family Court. The two judges named to the state Supreme Court were Melissa Long, currently a Superior Court judge, and former state senator Erin Lynch Prata.
Photo; Getty Images
The year: 1992.
The credit-union crisis had consumed the state. Corruption made regular headlines. Thousands had descended on the State House to demand reforms.
From The Providence Journal s archives: On January 5, 5,000 people gathered at their churches and proceeded to the State House to express support for a package of legislation . to bring ethics back to Rhode Island government. On April 27, over 650 people . convened at McVinney Auditorium in Providence to reiterate the call for ethical reform in Rhode Island state government. A poll . conducted by Alpha Research Associates . [found that] 66 percent oppose the appointment of General Assembly members to judgeships while in office or shortly after leaving office.