Rhode Island Courts Nominate Four New Magistrates
Rhode Island judicial leaders have put forward four candidates for magistrate positions in the Superior and Family courts.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in People
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Presiding Justice Joseph Montalbano and Chief Judge Michael B. Forte have nominated four legal professionals for magistrate roles across the state court system. The nominations are now headed to the state Senate for formal confirmation proceedings.
Why it matters
These appointments fill crucial judicial roles that oversee court proceedings and case management in Rhode Island. The Senate Judiciary Committee will play a decisive role in determining whether these nominees take the bench.
Magistrate terms in Rhode Island are set for a 10-year duration. Each position carries a starting annual salary of $198,523.
The players
Joseph Montalbano
He is the presiding justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court who nominated the candidates for Superior Court magistrate positions.
Michael B. Forte
He serves as the chief judge of the Rhode Island Family Court.
Kara Hoopis Manosh
She is the president of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a former assistant public defender.
Timothy G. Healy
He is an assistant attorney general who has led the Narcotics and Violent Crimes Unit since 2023.
Robert A. Ragosta
He is an associate municipal and auxiliary probate court judge in Cranston.
The details
The nominees for Superior Court magistrate are Kara Hoopis Manosh, who currently leads the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Timothy G. Healy, an assistant attorney general who has served as chief of the Narcotics and Violent Crimes Unit since 2023. Additionally, Therese M. Picard and Robert A. Ragosta have been nominated for Family Court magistrate positions, with Ragosta currently serving as an associate municipal and auxiliary probate court judge in Cranston.
Timeline
Kara Hoopis Manosh served as an assistant public defender from 2007 to 2011.
Timothy G. Healy became chief of the Narcotics and Violent Crimes Unit in 2023.
The Senate will receive the nominations on November 5, 2026.
Judiciary Committee hearings are scheduled for November 17 and 18, 2026.
Full Senate confirmation votes will occur December 1 and December 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
These nominations follow the standard oversight pattern required by the Rhode Island state Senate confirmation process. This established procedure ensures legislative review before candidates can assume their long-term judicial responsibilities.
Residents can expect these new magistrates to take on active roles in managing the caseloads of the Superior and Family courts upon confirmation. These appointments influence how quickly and effectively legal matters are processed within the state's justice system.
The takeaway
The nomination process highlights the intersection of legal expertise and legislative oversight in filling key judicial vacancies. Citizens can monitor the upcoming confirmation hearings to learn more about the judicial philosophies of the prospective magistrates.
What happens next
The Senate will convene November 5, 2026, to receive the appointments. Judiciary Committee hearings are set for November 17-18, 2026, followed by full Senate confirmation votes on December 1-2, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the individuals serving in the state judiciary, see Rhode Island People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by USA TODAY.
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