Court Rules
Common questions about Providence County Superior Court rules

Are courtesy copies required in Providence County Superior Court?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions, memorandum of laws, and supporting exhibits. Details: delivery within 30 days before hearing. Bench copies of the dispositive motion, memorandum of law, and supporting exhibits must be delivered to the judge's chambers.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS — Filing and Scheduling of Dispositive Motions

Does Providence County Superior Court require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Providence County Superior Court rules set a pre-motion procedure for discovery. Parties must attempt in good faith to resolve discovery disputes before filing discovery motions and discuss the dispute voice-to-voice before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 4, section D. Motions Involving Discovery Disputes (All Counties)

What page or word limits apply to award in Providence County Superior Court?

Providence County Superior Court's rule states these limits: 2 pages. When a party requests findings of fact and conclusions of law or an opinion supporting an award, the requested material may not exceed two pages.

View ruleSource: page 8, section Rule 4(b) Findings; Conclusions; Opinions

What formatting rules apply to filings in Providence County Superior Court?

Providence County Superior Court's formatting rule includes must follow the attached format and word format. A scheduling order must follow the attached format and be emailed to Justice Licht in Word format before e-filing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 4. Scheduling Orders

What must be included with excusal request filings in Providence County Superior Court?

The rule requires certificate of service. An attorney-excusal submission must certify service on every adverse attorney of record for an assigned cause during the requested excuse period.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. GENERAL RULES

What must be included with memorandum of law filings in Providence County Superior Court?

The rule requires legal argument. A memorandum of law must state the point made and the authorities supporting it.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. GENERAL RULES

How may parties contact Providence County Superior Court?

The rule addresses email communications. The rule lists email SCExcusal@courts.ri.gov. An attorney seeking excusal must email the request to the presiding justice and serve the adverse attorney of record for every covered scheduled matter.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. GENERAL RULES

How does Providence County Superior Court handle sealed or redacted filings?

Providence County Superior Court rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Child-victim cases require separate public and confidential court files during prosecution and disposition.

View ruleSource: page 8, section Rule 3.3

How do I request an adjournment or extension in Providence County Superior Court?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Every request to continue a dispositive motion requires approval from the Business Calendar Justice.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. NON-DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS

Does Providence County Superior Court require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Providence County Superior Court requires bundling for covered papers. An administrative-appeal assignment must be accompanied contemporaneously by each party's memorandum of law and the complete administrative-agency record.

View ruleSource: page 6, section Rule 2.8. Non-jury Matters (b)

Is electronic filing required in Providence County Superior Court?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. The Omnibus form, motion and memorandum, and supporting exhibits must be electronically filed and served at least 30 days before the dispositive-motion hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS — Filing and Scheduling of Dispositive Motions

Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Providence County Superior Court?

A fee is required for covered filings. A civil action is commenced by filing a complaint, all other required documents, and the legally prescribed fees together.

View ruleSource: page 4, section II. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADING, MOTIONS, AND ORDERS

What filing deadlines does Providence County Superior Court set?

An adverse attorney who objects to an excusal request must email the objection to the presiding justice immediately upon receiving the request.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. GENERAL RULES

What rule applies to service for excusal request in Providence County Superior Court?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. Service of an attorney-excusal request must comply with Rule 5 and be made on the adverse attorney of record for every trial, hearing, motion, calendar call, status conference, and other pretrial proceeding covered by the request.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. GENERAL RULES
Complete rules summary for Providence County Superior Court

An attorney-excusal submission must certify service on every adverse attorney of record for an assigned cause during the requested excuse period.

An attorney seeking excusal must email the request to the presiding justice and serve the adverse attorney of record for every covered scheduled matter.

Service of an attorney-excusal request must comply with Rule 5 and be made on the adverse attorney of record for every trial, hearing, motion, calendar call, status conference, and other pretrial proceeding covered by the request.

An adverse attorney who objects to an excusal request must email the objection to the presiding justice immediately upon receiving the request.

Every memorandum of law must be printed or typewritten, distinctly legible, signed as required, and include a concise case statement, numbered questions, and the point with supporting authorities.

A memorandum of law must state the point made and the authorities supporting it.

When examination of record evidence may be necessary, each party's brief must identify the leading established facts and cite the pages containing supporting evidence.

Case filings must conform to the Superior Court's Electronic Filing System Guidelines.

All parties must provide the court with a pre-trial memorandum before a non-jury civil matter may proceed to trial or disposition.

The pre-trial memorandum must be filed no later than the Tuesday before the Friday trial-calendar call.

An administrative-appeal assignment must be accompanied contemporaneously by each party's memorandum of law and the complete administrative-agency record.

The party or parties taking the appeal must order and pay for the transcript of the proceedings.

No filing fee is required for an appeal from a magistrate decision.

A notice of appeal must identify the appealing parties, the judgment, order, or decree appealed from, and the basis for the appeal.

The Superior Court must serve notice of the appeal filing on each non-appellant party's attorney of record or the non-appellant self-represented litigant.

A notice of appeal must be filed within 20 days after entry of the appealed judgment, order, or decree.

The assigned Superior Court justice must set the appeal for hearing within 60 days after the appellant files the required transcript.

The appeal must be dismissed if the transcript is not filed within 60 days of the entry of the appealed judgment, order, or decree, unless good cause is shown.

Child-victim cases require separate public and confidential court files during prosecution and disposition.

For documents identifying a child victim, a party must submit a redacted or fictitious-name public version and an unredacted confidential-file version.

When appropriate, identical public-file and confidential-file copies may be submitted for non-victim-identifying documents.

A party referring a qualified individual for Diversion Program participation must submit the referral form to the designated email address.

Counsel must complete every part of the referral form before submitting it.

The movant must electronically notify the Clerk as soon as possible if the motion will pass, will be resolved by agreed order, or will not receive oral argument.

Dispositive motions must be scheduled on the Business Calendar before they are filed.

The Clerk must receive a completed Omnibus Calendar Assignment form and assign a hearing date before scheduling a dispositive motion.

The Omnibus form, motion and memorandum, and supporting exhibits must be electronically filed and served at least 30 days before the dispositive-motion hearing.

A reply, supporting memorandum, supporting documentation, and bench copies must be filed and delivered within seven days after the objection is filed.

Electronic service of the dispositive-motion filing package is required at least 30 days before the hearing.

Bench copies of the dispositive motion, memorandum of law, and supporting exhibits must be delivered to the judge's chambers.

More Judges in Providence County Superior Court

Brian P. Stern
Judge
Brian Van Couyghen
Judge
Christopher Smith
Judge
Jeffrey A. Lanphear
Judge
Joseph McBurney
Judge
Joseph Montalbano
Judge
Kevin McHugh
Judge
Kristin E. Rodgers
Judge