Governor McKee Nominates Justice Joseph A. Montalbano as Presiding Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court
Published on Thursday, March 19, 2026
PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor Dan McKee today announced the nomination of current Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Joseph A. Montalbano to fill the vacancy of Presiding Justice in the Superior Court, which resulted from last year’s retirement of The Honorable Alice B. Gibney.
“Justice Montalbano has served as a jurist with the Superior Court for thirteen years and, during that time, he has demonstrated the knowledge and competence essential to lead the Court. With a legal career spanning over 45 years and a ten-year tenure as President of the Rhode Island Trial Judges’ Association, Justice Montalbano is qualified to ensure the continued effective administration of the Superior Court for the benefit of litigants, the bar, court staff, and all Rhode Islanders,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I thank the Judicial Nominating Commission for their work during this process.”
Justice Montalbano is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law. He has served as an Associate Justice of the Superior Court since 2013 and was the President of the Rhode Island Trial Judges’ Association from 2015 to 2025. He previously worked as a District Court Magistrate and as Chief Judge of the North Providence Municipal Court. Throughout his judicial career, Justice Montalbano has been a frequent continuing legal education lecturer for the Supreme Court Judicial Conference, the Rhode Island Bar Association, and the Pawtucket Bar Association. In 2018, he was awarded the Judicial Merit Award by the Rhode Island Association for Justice. Prior to his appointment to the court, Justice Montalbano maintained a longstanding legal practice while serving in the Rhode Island Senate representing the 37th and 17th Districts; he also served as Senate President.
“I am honored and humbled to be nominated by Governor McKee to serve as the Presiding Justice of the Superior Court, and I look forward to working with our dedicated justices and staff as we continue to strive for the fair and efficient administration of justice in the Superior Court,” said Justice Montalbano.
As Presiding Justice, Montalbano would oversee the staff and administration of the Superior Court, assign judges to cases and calendars, and provide leadership on court operations statewide.
The nomination will be submitted to the Rhode Island Senate for advice and consent.