Update: 3rd District Court Would Add Several Towns

Johnston's court cases will continue to be heard at the Philip W. Noel Judicial Complex in Warwick, where they've been going since 2007, Deputy Chief David DeCesare said in a recent e-mail message.

Several towns would be added to the court docket in Warwick under bills passed by both houses of the state General Assembly — Senate Bill 2011-S 0117 and House bill 2011-H 5131aa. Johnston, Scituate, and Foster already bring their cases to Third District Court.

"Although it's a further drive, the accommodations and parking are a lot better," DeCesare wrote. "All in all, it's worked well and there has been very little inconvenience."

The bills are undergoing Assembly review before referral to Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

Correction: A previous version of this article indicated that the bill would represent a change to the current system of hearing local District Court cases in Warwick.

Original press release from the Rhode Island General Assembly Press Bureau:

On April 28, the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Michael J. McCaffrey to ease overcrowding at the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex in Providence by rearranging the jurisdictions of district courts in the state.

The bill (2011-S 0117) moves District Court cases from a number of towns in Providence County – Glocester, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, and Smithfield — to the new Gov. Philip W. Noel Judicial Complex in Warwick.

That courthouse was built to serve Kent County, but has plenty of extra room to accommodate additional cases. The bill also moves cases from North Kingstown from Washington County’s courthouse to Kent County.

The changes in the bill, requested by District Court Chief Justice Jeanne E. LaFazia, would consolidate the state’s district courts from six divisions to four, and would shift cases from the overcrowded Providence courthouse to the spacious one in Kent County, which also features a free garage with ample parking.

“We worked with the District Court to develop this plan, which is designed for efficiency. This is a way to ease the congestion and burden at Garrahy Courthouse by making better use of the new space in Kent County. This will make it easier for Rhode Islanders who have to visit the courthouses to get in, get their business done and get on with their lives,” said Senator McCaffrey, a Democrat who represents District 29 in Warwick.

He added that although the list of nine communities whose cases would be moved to Kent County seems lengthy by Rhode Island standards, it’s noteworthy that several of the communities are rural with relatively low caseloads, and the new courthouse has plenty of room to handle more cases than it currently houses.

The bill will now be transmitted to the House of Representatives, which has passed identical legislation (2011-H 5131aa) sponsored by House Majority Whip J. Patrick O’Neil (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket).