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Judicial Elections
How Judges Are Chosen in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the State House and Senate.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Rhode Island?
- Highest court
- Rhode Island Supreme Court — 5 justices
- How chosen
- Commission + appointment
- Voters
- Voters have no direct say
- Term
- No fixed term
- To serve again
- Serve to age limit or for life
- 2026 ballot
- No Rhode Island Supreme Court seats in 2026
How Rhode Island chooses its judges
Rhode Island Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the State House and Senate.
- Seats: 5 justices on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
- Term: no fixed term.
- Confirmation: appointees must be approved by the State House and Senate.
- To serve again: Serve to age limit or for life.
- Other courts: All courts are appointed the same way.
Justices serve for life, with no retirement age and no reappointment.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Is the Rhode Island Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No — and no other judge is either. Rhode Island fills every court by appointment, so judges never appear on the ballot.
Following judicial appointments in Rhode Island
With no judicial elections, the public’s say runs through the officials who choose judges: the governor who appoints them and the State House and Senate, which must approve each appointment. Full details, including how vacancies are filled, are on Ballotpedia’s Rhode Island judicial selection page.
For everything else on your ballot, see how to vote in Rhode Island.
Federal judges in Rhode Island
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Rhode Island’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Rhode Island’s senators: Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic) and Jack Reed (Democratic).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in Rhode Island has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in Rhode Island and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Rhode Island as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission and confirmed by the State House and Senate. All courts are appointed the same way.
How long is a term on the Rhode Island Supreme Court?
There is no fixed term. Justices serve for life.
Is the Rhode Island Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No. Rhode Island voters do not vote on the Rhode Island Supreme Court: its justices are appointed, and they serve for life.
Are any judges on the Rhode Island ballot?
No. Rhode Island fills every court by appointment, so no judge appears on the ballot.
Who appoints federal judges in Rhode Island?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Rhode Island's senators, Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Rhode Island
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Rhode Island Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.