United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island


The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution. The Federal Courthouse was built in 1908.
Appeals from the District of Rhode Island are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
The United States attorney for the District of Rhode Island represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. the United States attorney is Zachary A. Cunha.

Legislative history

The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island was established on June 23, 1790, by. Congress authorized one judgeship for the Court, and assigned the district to the Eastern Circuit. On February 13, 1801, the outgoing lame duck Federalist-controlled Congress passed the controversial Judiciary Act of 1801 which reassigned the District of Rhode Island to the First Circuit.
The incoming Congress repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801, but in the Judiciary Act of 1802, Congress again assigned the District of Rhode Island to the First Circuit.
A second seat on the Court was created on March 18, 1966, by. A third seat was added on July 10, 1984, by.

Current judges



Notable cases

West v. Barnes, the first case appealed to the U.S. Supreme CourtFricke v. Lynch, case involving government gender limits on prom datesLee v. Weisman, case involving clergy-led prayer at public school graduation ceremonies

United States attorneys for the District of Rhode Island

Some of the U.S. attorneys for Rhode Island