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Michael Prete v. Rhode Island
Paid petition · Supreme Court of Rhode Island, No. SU-2024-0152-MP · judgment June 27, 2024
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
Is it a violation of the First Amendment for an attorney to be disciplined (let alone stripped of his law license) for Constitutionally Protected speech made in compliance with Professional Conduct, his attorney oath, etc.? Is it a violation of the First Amendment for an attorney to be disciplined (let alone stripped of his law license) for pointing out examples (supported by prima facie evidence) of corruption, etc. by members of the R.I. Judiciary (including by justices of the R.I. Supreme Court (the entity who sua sponte stripped the attorney of his law license)) (as ADMITTED by all five justices of the R.I. Supreme Court)? Is it a violation of Due Process and Equal Protection for an attorney to be disciplined (let alone stripped of his law license) for not attending a hearing which the attorney, per the R.I. Supreme Court's own practice and rules specifically indicate, is not required to attend (the attorney may rest on his filing(s))? Did the R.I. Supreme Court's actions deprive Petitioner of his right (as guaranteed by the disciplinary rules, etc.) to a form of appellate review? Did the R.I. Supreme Court violate Petitioner's First Amendment rights by retaliating against Petitioner's exercise of Constitutionally Protected Free Speech? Page i of xiv
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Michael Prete
For respondent
Katherine Connolly Sadeck
Rhode Island Department of Attorney General
Proceedings
- Mar 03 2025Rehearing DENIED.
- Feb 12 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/28/2025.
- Feb 07 2025Petition for Rehearing filed.
- Jan 13 2025Petition DENIED.
- Dec 18 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2025.
- Dec 10 2024Waiver of right of respondent Rhode Island to respond filed.
- Nov 25 2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 3, 2025)
- Sep 16 2024Application (24A260) granted by Justice Jackson extending the time to file until November 25, 2024.
- Sep 09 2024Application (24A260) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 25, 2024 to November 24, 2024, submitted to Justice Jackson.