Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 8-16 - Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline
Section 8-16-8. - Discipline of judges upon indictment or conviction for a crime.

§ 8-16-8. Discipline of judges upon indictment or conviction for a crime.
(a) The supreme court on its own motion shall suspend, pending the prosecution of an appeal, any judge of any court when it is shown by the certified record of a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she either pleaded guilty or no contest or was found guilty of a crime punishable as a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States, or of any other crime that involves moral turpitude. The suspension shall be without compensation, except where the judge involved is a justice of the supreme court. Whenever, upon appeal, the conviction is reversed, the suspension shall terminate and the judge involved shall be paid the salary that would have been paid him or her during the period of suspension.
(b) Where, after an appeal, a conviction has become final, the judge involved shall be removed from office either by the supreme court in appropriate cases or, in the case of a justice of the supreme court, by action pursuant to the provisions of § 8-16-7(b).
(c) A judge is hereby disqualified and prohibited from performing his or her judicial duties while there is pending against him or her an indictment charging him or her with the commission of a crime punishable as a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or the United States. The suspension shall be without loss of compensation.
History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 136, § 1.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts

Chapter 8-16 - Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline

Section 8-16-1. - Composition — Appointment.

Section 8-16-2. - Terms of the commissioners.

Section 8-16-3. - Meetings of the commission — Compensation.

Section 8-16-4. - Employment of personnel — Investigation of unfitness.

Section 8-16-4.1. - Subpoena powers of commission.

Section 8-16-4.2. - Discovery.

Section 8-16-4.3. - Compelling evidence in commission proceedings — Immunity.

Section 8-16-5. - Certification of recommendations to supreme court.

Section 8-16-6. - Review of commission’s recommendations by supreme court.

Section 8-16-6.1. - Suspension of judge pending review.

Section 8-16-7. - Power of the supreme court to discipline, suspend, or remove judges.

Section 8-16-7.1. - Confidentiality of supreme court review of recommendation of private reprimand.

Section 8-16-8. - Discipline of judges upon indictment or conviction for a crime.

Section 8-16-9. - Retirement of judges for incapacity or disability.

Section 8-16-10. - Disqualification from acting as a commissioner.

Section 8-16-11. - Papers and testimony privileged.

Section 8-16-12. - Rules of practice and procedure — Confidentiality of proceedings.

Section 8-16-13. - Closed meetings of the commission — Public hearings — Evidence to remain confidential until made public at hearing.

Section 8-16-13.1. - Related judicial proceedings — Confidentiality.

Section 8-16-14. - Reasonable counsel fees.