Governor Deliberating Over Next Chief Judge of Work Comp Court

Monday, December 14, 2015 | 0

Three sitting Workers' Compensation Court judges have been chosen by Rhode Island's judicial nominating committee to lead the court.

Following interviews Wednesday, the three names -- Judges Janette A. Bertness, Dianne M. Connor and Robert M. Ferrier -- were sent to Gov. Gina Raimondo for her to decide who will be chief judge of the court, replacing the retired Chief Judge George Healy.

Bertness was named to the court by Governor Bruce Sundlun in 1993. She attended Suffolk University Law School, the Providence Journal reports.

In 2000, Governor Lincoln Almond named Connor to the court. She earned a law degree in 1982 from the New England School of Law and worked with Cunha & Associates prior to taking the bench.

Ferrieri was named to the court in 2008 by Governor Donald Carcieri. He previously worked as a partner in the Providence law firm of Lombardi & Ferrieri. He earned a law degree at Suffolk University Law School.

The panel also voted to recommend five candidates to Raimondo for a Workers' Compensation Court judge. They are Alfredo T. Conte, Susan Pepin Fay, Karen L. Finley, Mark McKenney and Steven Minicucci.