Rafael Ovalles
Rafael Ovalles was an associate judge of the Rhode Island District Court.[1] He was appointed to the court by Governor Donald Carcieri (R) in 2005.[2] In December 2015, Ovalles was relieved of his judicial duties due to pending allegations of judicial misconduct. Ovalles denied all allegations against him.[3] Ovalles announced in September 2017 that he would resign on October 31, 2017.[4]
Biography
Ovalles was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Providence, Rhode Island, when he was 10. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law. At Boston University, he was president of the Hispanic-American Law Student Association. His professional experience includes working as an attorney in private practice and as a bail commissioner.[5]
Noteworthy events
Misconduct allegations (2015-2017)
The Rhode Island Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline conducted an investigation after receiving complaints against Judge Rafael Ovalles. On December 8, 2015, the commission announced its conclusion that Ovalles violated the canons of judicial ethics by sexually harassing a court clerk and mistreating attorneys, staff, and the public.[2] The ethics case had yet been resolved when Ovalles announced in September 2017 that he would resign on October 31, 2017. The case was dismissed after Ovalles resigned.[6]
Specific examples of Ovalles' behavior in the report included making an inappropriate comment to a female lawyer at a wake, not wearing pants in his office, telling a female clerk, "I'm the man. Listen to me and we'll be fine," delaying proceedings in several mental health matters, and napping at work.[2]
Read the commission's report in full here.
The week after the commission released its report, District Court Chief Judge Jeanne E. LaFazia excused Ovalles of his judicial duties while the allegations against him were pending. Ovalles continued to receive his $160,018 salary.[3]
Ovalles filed a response to the complaint on January 26, 2016, denying all allegations against him. A hearing before the commission occurred on April 16, 2016.[7] His public hearing was postponed four times, and eventually began on January 23, 2017. When asked by NBC 10, a court spokesperson said the reason for the delay was "confidential under court rules."[8][9]
On August 9, 2017, the commission a 240-page ruling in which is recommended that Ovalles be removed from office. The commission found that Ovalles had violated the Rhode Island Code of Judicial Conduct 41 times, but found the allegation that the judge removed his pants at work to be false. The Rhode Island Supreme Court makes the final decision in judicial ethics cases.[10]
On August 29, 2017, Ovalles petitioned the supreme court to reject the commission's recommendation that he be removed from office.[11] On September 28, 2017, Ovalles announced that he would retire at the end of October. In his resignation letter to Governor Gina Raimondo (D) he still denied the allegations against him but said his "ability to serve effectively has been compromised as a result of the disciplinary complaints filed against me."[4]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Rhode Island Judiciary, "District Court," accessed December 9, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Providence Journal, "Commission: District Court Judge Ovalles sexually harassed female staff, lawyers," December 8, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Providence Journal, "District Court Judge Ovalles excused from court duties as misconduct investigation unfolds," December 17, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. News, "Embattled Rhode Island Judge Announces Retirement," September 29, 2017
- ↑ Vote Smart, "Carcieri Congratulates Rafael A. Ovalles on His Confirmation as District Judge," April 5, 2005
- ↑ Turn to 10, "First on 10: Case dismissed against former District Court judge," November 2, 2017
- ↑ Providence Journal, "R.I. District Court Judge Ovalles denies misconduct allegations," January 26, 2016
- ↑ NBC 10, "Hearing postponed 4th time for judge accused of sexual harassment," September 16, 2016
- ↑ WPRI.com, "Hearing begins for judge accused of harassment, misconduct," January 24, 2017
- ↑ Providence Journal, "Law panel cites misconduct, incompetence as reasons for removing District Court Judge Ovalles," August 9, 2017
- ↑ Providence Journal, "Disgraced R.I. judge asks high court to keep him on the bench," August 31, 2017
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Rhode Island • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Rhode Island
State courts:
Rhode Island Supreme Court • Rhode Island Superior Court • Rhode Island District Court • Rhode Island Family Court • Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court • Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal
State resources:
Courts in Rhode Island • Rhode Island judicial elections • Judicial selection in Rhode Island
