STATE HOUSE – Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9,
Providence) is issuing the following statement concerning the recent
nominations of Superior Court Judge Melissa Long and Sen. Erin Lynch Prata
(D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
“The nomination of Judge Long to our state’s highest court
is applauded and appreciated by the state’s community of color, but make no
mistake about it, the struggle for this nomination was distressing and long
overdue for a decision to be made to appoint a qualified person of color to the
Rhode Island Supreme Court. This is especially true since our neighboring
states have all long held chief judges of color and administrative directors of
color, yet we have not. I am pleased that the governor also nominated
women of color to the Superior Court and the Family Court. Their
nominations, as well as Judge Long’s, is a good step forward for equality but
there is still far more work that needs to be done so that our judiciary is
truly reflective of our state’s diverse demographics,” said Representative
Williams.
“If confirmed by the General Assembly, I have no doubt that
Judge Long and Senator Lynch Prata will serve the Judiciary and the people of
Rhode Island with distinction, honor, fairness, and most importantly,
compassion. It is with this compassion that I hope these new justices
clearly see and recognize the injustices and inequality that has and continues
to plague our community of color for centuries. And with their new
position of power, I hope that they will help bring forth the fair and
righteous change that our community has deserved for quite some time. I
wish them both good luck and I am now eager and willing to begin the
confirmation process,” concluded Representative Williams.