Bill Sponsors
McEntee, Caldwell, and Craven
Committee
House Finance
Summary
Select
This bill creates a specific "domestic violence calendar" within the Rhode Island Superior Court. It requires the court to group together and prioritize criminal cases involving felony domestic violence, violations of no-contact or protective orders, and weapons charges related to domestic violence. The presiding judge is authorized to assign specific personnel to handle these cases to maintain consistency. The bill also grants this calendar shared authority with other court calendars to hear various criminal actions that involve domestic violence.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Prioritizes handling domestic violence cases, which can quickly address the safety and welfare of vulnerable victims and survivors in the community.
- Creates a specialized court calendar that promotes continuity of judicial oversight, allowing judges to better understand the nuances and systemic issues of domestic abuse.
- Centralizes the enforcement of no-contact orders and bail conditions, which helps protect victims from further harm or retaliation by holding offenders accountable consistently.
Cons for Progressives
- Focuses heavily on expedited criminal prosecution and punishment rather than addressing the root causes of domestic violence through community investment or restorative justice.
- May lead to rushed court proceedings due to the mandate for priority scheduling, potentially impacting the due process rights of marginalized defendants.
- Does not allocate new funding for public defenders or social services, meaning the expedited calendar could strain existing legal aid resources for the poor.
Pros for Conservatives
- Strengthens the rule of law by strictly enforcing bail conditions and no-contact orders against violent offenders.
- Increases court efficiency by centralizing similar cases, potentially reducing bureaucratic delays and making better use of existing judicial resources without expanding government assistance programs.
- Enhances public safety by prioritizing the swift prosecution of felony domestic violence and related weapons charges, protecting traditional family structures from internal violence.
Cons for Conservatives
- Creates a specialized court mechanism that could be perceived as weaponizing the judicial system to aggressively target individuals accused of domestic disputes before they are proven guilty.
- Grants broad administrative authority to the presiding justice to create new rules and protocols, potentially expanding bureaucratic power within the courts.
- Prioritizing domestic violence cases over others might delay the resolution of other important business or civil disputes, disrupting the standard administration of justice.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. The bill primarily addresses the internal administrative organization and scheduling of the state's Superior Court. It explicitly notes that priority scheduling must be "consistent with the rights of the parties," protecting due process. It does not alter the burden of proof, create new criminal penalties, or infringe on constitutional rights.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Domestic violence victims
- Domestic violence defendants
- Superior Court judges
- Court personnel
- Criminal defense attorneys
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
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Environmental Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 05/13/2026 Introduced, referred to House Finance
• 05/15/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)
• 05/19/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 05/15/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)
• 05/19/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose.
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that domestic violence offenses present a significant threat to public safety, frequently involve repeat conduct, and require coordinated and consistent judicial oversight. The general assembly further finds that the centralized and expedited disposition of such cases within the superior court will promote the fair and efficient administration of justice, enhance victim safety, and ensure the consistent application and enforcement of bail conditions and no-contact orders.
SECTION 2. Chapter 8-2 of the General Laws entitled "Superior Court" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
8-2-15.2. Domestic violence calendar.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby established within the Rhode Island superior court a separate calendar to be known as the “domestic violence calendar” for the hearing and disposition of domestic violence cases within the jurisdiction of the superior court.
(b) Eligible cases. The domestic violence calendar shall include the following actions within the jurisdiction of the superior court:
(1) All criminal proceedings alleging the commission of a felony offense constituting domestic violence, as defined in § 12-29-2;
(2) All felony offenses involving violations of no-contact orders or protective orders arising from domestic violence matters;
(3) All felony offenses involving the use, possession, or discharge of a weapon in connection with a domestic violence offense; and
(4) Any other criminal proceedings arising from the same act or transaction or otherwise related to a domestic violence matter, as the presiding justice or the court deems appropriate for inclusion on the domestic violence calendar.
(c) Assignment of personnel. The presiding justice of the superior court shall assign personnel to the extent warranted to hear cases on the domestic violence calendar and may provide for the consistent assignment of such cases in order to promote continuity of judicial oversight, where practicable.
(d) Priority of proceedings. Cases assigned to the domestic violence calendar shall be given priority in scheduling and disposition, consistent with the rights of the parties.
(e) Concurrent jurisdiction. The "domestic violence calendar" shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any other calendar of the superior court to hear and decide all criminal actions brought pursuant to the violations of chapters 5, 9, 29, 37, 47 and 68 of title 11 and any offense constituting domestic violence as provided pursuant to § 12-29-2, as long as the criminal action involves domestic violence as defined in § 15-15-1.
(f) Administration. The presiding justice may adopt administrative orders, rules, and protocols as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including coordination, where appropriate, with the Rhode Island district court and the Rhode Island family court.
(g) Construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the superior court to control its calendar, assign cases, or otherwise manage its docket as provided by law.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that domestic violence offenses present a significant threat to public safety, frequently involve repeat conduct, and require coordinated and consistent judicial oversight. The general assembly further finds that the centralized and expedited disposition of such cases within the superior court will promote the fair and efficient administration of justice, enhance victim safety, and ensure the consistent application and enforcement of bail conditions and no-contact orders.
SECTION 2. Chapter 8-2 of the General Laws entitled "Superior Court" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
8-2-15.2. Domestic violence calendar.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby established within the Rhode Island superior court a separate calendar to be known as the “domestic violence calendar” for the hearing and disposition of domestic violence cases within the jurisdiction of the superior court.
(b) Eligible cases. The domestic violence calendar shall include the following actions within the jurisdiction of the superior court:
(1) All criminal proceedings alleging the commission of a felony offense constituting domestic violence, as defined in § 12-29-2;
(2) All felony offenses involving violations of no-contact orders or protective orders arising from domestic violence matters;
(3) All felony offenses involving the use, possession, or discharge of a weapon in connection with a domestic violence offense; and
(4) Any other criminal proceedings arising from the same act or transaction or otherwise related to a domestic violence matter, as the presiding justice or the court deems appropriate for inclusion on the domestic violence calendar.
(c) Assignment of personnel. The presiding justice of the superior court shall assign personnel to the extent warranted to hear cases on the domestic violence calendar and may provide for the consistent assignment of such cases in order to promote continuity of judicial oversight, where practicable.
(d) Priority of proceedings. Cases assigned to the domestic violence calendar shall be given priority in scheduling and disposition, consistent with the rights of the parties.
(e) Concurrent jurisdiction. The "domestic violence calendar" shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any other calendar of the superior court to hear and decide all criminal actions brought pursuant to the violations of chapters 5, 9, 29, 37, 47 and 68 of title 11 and any offense constituting domestic violence as provided pursuant to § 12-29-2, as long as the criminal action involves domestic violence as defined in § 15-15-1.
(f) Administration. The presiding justice may adopt administrative orders, rules, and protocols as are necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including coordination, where appropriate, with the Rhode Island district court and the Rhode Island family court.
(g) Construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the superior court to control its calendar, assign cases, or otherwise manage its docket as provided by law.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.