Disciplinary complaint filed against Neronha over social media posts
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha provides an update on the sale of Narragansett Electric, Monday, May 23, 2022. (WLNE)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Judge Daniel Procaccini filed a disciplinary complaint against Attorney General Peter Neronha Friday after a court hearing over recent social media posts.
Procaccini ordered Neronha to appear in court following posts on X, formerly Twitter, where Neronha said he wants to see a change in the state’s process for allowing non-jury trials.
Neronha made the posts after Procaccini dropped the assault case against Barrington dentist Richard Gordon last month.
Neronha took to X the next day, questioning the state’s process for allowing non-jury trials.
Procacci said in court that Neronha’s decision to write those posts was an act of attorney misconduct, which the court believes was “blatantly and recklessly in violation of the Rhode Island rules of professional conduct.”
In a long statement released Friday, Neronha said that the dispute between him and the judge “could easily have been resolved informally” and that he believed the court order was unnecessary.
He said that his social media posts were not meant to be a direct attack against Procaccini.
His statement said, in part:
“So, what have I done? I have spoken out about a Rhode Island legal practice in Superior Court criminal trials that is unbalanced and prejudices the public’s interest in achieving justice for victims of crime. In speaking out against this practice, I have plainly offended Judge Procaccini, who evidently misinterpreted my public statements as personal criticism directed at him. He is wrong on that score, but even if he were right, are judges beyond criticism in our democracy? I think not.”
He also took to X to say his posts questioning the current process for allowing non-jury trials has consistently been in defense of the victims in criminal cases.
Neronha did not attend the hearing after he said he was exposed to COVID-19.
Neronha said in a statement Thursday that he traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to attend a National Association of Attorneys General conference. He said he was exposed to COVID-19 and was symptomatic.
Civil Division Chief Miriam Weizenbaum from his office attended the hearing in Providence Superior Court on his behalf.
The order for Neronha to appear in court was cancelled.
