Shekarchi vs Ethics Commission | Providence News

Providence News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 20, 2026 · 2m

Former Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi is locked in a high-stakes legal battle over whether he can bypass a one-year cooling-off period to run for a Supreme Court seat, sparking a fierce debate over ethics law and constitutional exemptions. His team argues he’s exempt because the Supreme Court is a “constitutional office,” while the Ethics Commission insists it’s state employment subject to ethics rules. The case hinges on a murky legal interpretation, with past precedent from Justice Erin Lynch Prata’s appointment thrown into the mix — but no official ruling has been made yet. With…