It Is Official, Providence Has a New Chief Judge - Caprio Out and Lombardi Is In
Friday, January 20, 2023
On Thursday night, the Providence City Council elected John Lombardi, the Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court.
Lombardi has previously served as a City Councilor, President of the Council, acting Mayor, and municipal court judge. He also ran for mayor in 2010. Presently, he serves as a state representative.
Lombardi’s elevation displaces long-time Chief Judge Frank Caprio, another long-time Providence politician. Caprio’s syndicated TV show "Caught in Providence" became a lightning rod. Also, Caprio has faced questions about whether he actually lives in Providence. In 2019, Caprio released a pilot for another TV show called "The Caprios of Providence."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOver the years, Lombardi and Caprio have been political rivals. And in 2015, GoLocal unveiled that both Caprio and Lombardi are eligible for three different municipal pensions.
In addition, the Council approved the reappointment of Daniel McKiernan as Associate Judge and the appointment of Vanessa Crum.
Crum is a retired attorney with nearly 40 years of legal experience, former attorney and administrator for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, a former administrator for the City of Providence (responsible for women and business enterprise development), served on the city’s ethics commission, born and raised in Providence, a graduate of the Wheeler School, John Hopkins University, and Columbus School of Law. She is the first Black woman to serve on the Providence Municipal Court.
Caprio was named “Chief Judge Emeritus” -- an unpaid and ceremonial position.
The change in the leadership of the court was sparked in part due to the Caprio family generating millions of dollars over the years in social media advertising revenue and syndication fees while the city received no revenue while serving as the backdrop to the show.
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