Governor McKee Swears in the Honorable Joseph A. Montalbano as Presiding Justice of the RI Superior Court

Published on Tuesday, April 07, 2026

PROVIDENCE, RI – On Monday, Governor Dan McKee was joined by Senate President Valarie Lawson to swear in Joseph A. Montalbano as the next Presiding Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court.

Also in attendance were Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Secretary of State Gregg Amore, and General Treasurer Diossa.

“Presiding Justice Montalbano is an experienced, dedicated, honest leader who brings decades of experience that Rhode Islanders will benefit greatly from," said Governor McKee. "I am deeply honored to swear in Presiding Justice Montalbano, and I thank him for his continued dedication to our state."

"On behalf of the entire Senate, I want to express our congratulations to Justice Montalbano. Over the course of a distinguished career in public service, he has earned a reputation for excellence and gained the deep admiration of his peers. Our state is so fortunate to have him presiding over the Rhode Island Superior Court," said Senate President Valarie Lawson.

Presiding 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, Presiding 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, he 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 deeply honored to have been sworn in as the Presiding Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court today,” said Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph A. Montalbano. “I do not take this responsibility lightly and look forward to continuing to serve the State with fairness and integrity. I extend my gratitude to the Governor, the Judicial Nominating Commission, and Senate at large for their support and confirmation.” 

He fills the spot left vacant by The Honorable Alice B. Gibney.