RI's new Chief Justice on Newsmakers

PROVIDENCE R.I. (WPRI) - RI's newest Chief Justice, Paul Suttell gives his first extended television interview on this week's Newsmakers.

The new chief of Rhode Island's highest court is facing a shrinking budget and massive judicial vacancies.

The interview with Newsmakers host Tim White gave insight into the state's 51st chief justice.

Justice Suttell declined to answer questions on specific rulings like the recent ethics commission case or his thoughts on gay marriage.

When asked about his judiciary style compared to former Chief Justice Frank Williams, Justice Suttell stated "You indicated modest, I think it will be a different style."

When Justice Suttell is sworn in later this month, he will be taking the reigns of a cash-strapped court system.

"It's going to be difficult. The challenge is going to be to maintain the level of services that we now provide."

It will be difficult for the new Chief Justice because the judiciary system is facing 52 vacancies, of which only 7 are judges. A smaller budget may mean a permanently smaller staff.

With the bad economy, one thing that is guaranteed is that there will be no new courthouse, like the one that former Chief Justice Frank Williams wanted to build in Lincoln. Justice Suttell is not writing off the idea of a new courthouse.

"Yes. Eventually we'll need to have better access to the courts for the northern Rhode Island citizens."

One of the cost saving measures that he's considering is video conferencing between the prison and the courts to avoid shipping prisoners back and forth on routine hearings.

Justice Paul Suttell will be sworn by Governor Don Carcieri on July 16th.

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