R.I. Sup. Ct. R. 7.2

As amended through June 7, 2024
Rule 7.2 - Judicial Performance Evaluation Program.
(a) There shall be established a Judicial Performance Evaluation Program, to the supervised by this Court and implemented and administered by the Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee. The primary goals of this program shall be the self-improvement of individual judges and the improvement of the judiciary as a whole. A secondary goal of the program shall be the improvement of the design and content of continuing judicial education programs. The Judicial Performance Evaluation Program shall be administered so that there shall be no interference with the performance of the regular duties of judges and no infringement on judicial integrity.
(b) Each judge in the unified judicial system shall be evaluated biennially. Newly appointed judges shall be evaluated at the end of their second year of service.
(c) The criteria for evaluation shall address all facets of a judge's performance, including, but not limited to, integrity, knowledge and understanding of law and procedure, communication skills, preparation, attentiveness, control over the proceeding, management skills, punctuality, service to the profession and the public, and effectiveness inworking with other judges.
(d) The evaluation process shall employ acceptable, professionally recognized methods of data collection. The data shall be obtained from multiple sources to provide balanced information and shall be based on a judge's current performance. The data collection instruments shall be reviewed by experts in research techniques to ensure that such methods are valid and free from bias.
(e) Staff support for the program shall be provided by the Administrative Office of the State Courts.

R.I. Sup. Ct. R. 7.2

Renumbered 6/6/2018.