Politics & Government

Portsmouth Picks Former Tiverton Judge To Lead Municipal Court

The Portsmouth Town Council has picked Richard P. D’Addario as the town's first municipal court judge, reports The Portsmouth Times

The announcement was made at Monday's town council meeting. 

The Honorable D'Addario has practiced law since 1971 in both New York and Rhode Island. He has served as probate judge for the town of Tiverton since 1993 and was the municipal court judge for the town of Middletown from 2004 to 2006.

D'Addario came to Rhode Island in 1971 as a Vista volunteer for Rhode Island Legal Services. He went on to become a staff attorney and later a managing attorney of the Newport office of Rhode Island Legal Services, where he handled a variety of civil cases for persons unable to afford to hire an attorney.

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In 1976, D'Addario began practicing general law in Newport. He was a partner in the firm of Howe, D'Addario and Machtley from 1978 to 1985.

D'Addario's present law office at 1 Courthouse Square was founded on Sept. 1, 1985. One Courthouse Square is located in the former Short Line/Bonanza bus terminal in Newport.  

Find out what's happening in Tiverton-Little Comptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

D'Addario has also been involved in a number of important cases and has appeared on television shows 20/20, 48 Hours, and City Confidential. 

In 2006, he was awarded a certificate of distinction at the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting for his work on behalf of an abused elderly woman.

In addition to the two judgeships, D'Addario has served as assistant town solicitor for the town of Middletown. He's also been involved in a wide variety of common activities in his 35 years of practice and has served on numerous non-profit boards.  

D'Addario also owns and operates a five-acre garden and organic farm in Tiverton. He is a member of the Newport National Golf Club and Montaup Country Club.  

He is married, has two sons and three grandchildren.


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