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Providence Municipal Court undergoes historic change


Providence City Council President Rachel Miller swears in Daniel McKiernan (left), Vanessa Crum (middle) and John Lombardi (right) to the Providence Municipal Court. (WJAR)
Providence City Council President Rachel Miller swears in Daniel McKiernan (left), Vanessa Crum (middle) and John Lombardi (right) to the Providence Municipal Court. (WJAR)
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History was made at the Providence City Hall meeting Thursday night.

Vanessa Crum is the first woman of color to be elected as a Providence Municipal Court judge.

"She's been trying for 24 years," said Rep. John Lombardi, who was elected as the court's chief judge. "She gets it, she's been around, she knows the system, she knows right from wrong and she's going to be an excellent judge."

Crum will work alongside Dan McKiernan and Lombardi, who will replace Rhode Island's longtime TV and Municipal Court Chief Judge Frank Caprio.

Caprio chose to retire after questions were raised about financial aspects of his show, "Caught In Providence." He was on the bench for 38 years and his show was on the air for more than 20.

Lombardi is a Providence native and judge of eight years. He's currently a state representative, an attorney, a former city council president and even mayor for a year -- all in the capital city.

In his new role, he will be sitting in a newly named courtroom.

The Providence City Council approved a resolution to rename the Municipal courtroom as the "Frank Caprio," courtroom.

"He's contributed a lot to our court system and we really appreciate that so that's why we did it," said city Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Ward 11.

Caprio was given the title of volunteer chief judge emeritus -- it is still unclear what that role will entail.

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