R.i. Sup. Ct. R. 21
All proceedings involving allegations of misconduct by or incapacity of an attorney shall be kept confidential until and unless a probable cause determination has been made by the Board, except where the proceeding is predicated upon a conviction of the respondent-attorney for a crime. Upon the determination of probable cause, the petition for formal disciplinary action and the attorney's written answer shall be public documents, provided, however, that upon motion made by either Chief Disciplinary Counsel or respondent-attorney for a protective order, the record of proceedings may be sealed to protect the identity of the complainant. This provision shall not be construed to deny access to relevant information to law enforcement agencies, authorized agencies investigating the qualifications of judicial candidates, for admission to practice or for government employment; provided, however, the fact of any dismissed complaint shall be deemed irrelevant to any such investigation. The Clerk of the Court shall transmit notice of all discipline imposed by this Court, or transfers to inactive status due to incapacity, to the National Discipline Data Bank maintained by the American Bar Association.
R.i. Sup. Ct. R. 21