Via Rhode Island Criminal Defense Attorney Macktaz at rhodeislandcriminaldefenseattorney.blogspot.com:
Within hours of [Rhode Island] Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams’ unexpected retirement announcement last week, jockeying for the seat had already begun. And it’s no wonder.
The position is the pinnacle of a legal career in Rhode Island, with enormous power and perks, as well as the potential to influence some of the weightiest issues facing the state. This is only the seventh time in 50 years the job has become open.
The task of picking a nominee to fill the lifetime post will rest largely with Republican Governor Carcieri, but only with the consent of the Democratic-led General Assembly.
There’s no word if Governor Carcieri will atempt to trade the f*cking appointment for f*cking favors.
The 69-year-old Williams has served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island since 2001. He is also Chief Judge of the United States Court of Military Commission Review.