Longtime Workers' Comp Lawyer Named Court's Chief Justice

Friday, June 3, 2016 | 0

The Rhode Island Senate has named Robert M. Ferrieri, an eight-year judge on the state Workers’ Compensation Court, as the panel’s chief justice.

State Sen. Frank Lombardi

Senators also confirmed Michael J. Feeney as a new associate justice of the court.

"The general public often does not understand the importance of appointing impressive candidates to the judiciary. It's very important because they in many ways represent the public more than we do," Sen. Frank Lombardi, D-Cranston, said, as reported by the Providence Journal. "Workers' Compensation Court is no different than any other court. ... Someone has been injured and they are relying upon this court to protect their interests as an injured worker in that situation."

Former Gov. Don Carcieri nominated, and the Senate confirmed, Ferrieri to the Workers’ Compensation Court in 2008 after he spent more than 20 years in private practice focusing on workers’ comp and personal injury law. He earned a J.D. at Suffolk Law School in 1985.

Feeney was an assistant town solicitor in East Greenwich.

Attorney Michael Schwartz testified before the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Feeney’s behalf, saying, “The respect of one’s peers is not easily earned. ... We are confident, when appearing before Judge Feeney, our clients will get a fair hearing and a fair trial,” the Providence Journal reported.

Gov. Gina Raimondo nominated Ferrieri and Feeney to the lifetime positions, and the Senate granted unanimous advice and consent Wednesday.