Journal file photo
Montalbano
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Chafee on Friday nominated former Senate President and current District Court Magistrate Joseph Montalbano to the Superior Court bench.
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If confirmed by the Senate, Montalbano would take the $149,207-per-year lifetime seat vacated when Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. retired in March 2012.
District Court Judge Jeanne LaFazia in 2011 chose Montalbano to fill the unexpired term of Christine S. Jabour -- sister of Sen. Paul Jabour, D-Providence -- as magistrate after she was elevated to a District Court judgeship.
Montalbano, who represented parts of Lincoln, Pawtucket and North Providence beginning in 1988, lost his bid for reelection in 2008. A year earlier he paid a $12,000 ethics fine for failing to disclose work he did for the Town of West Warwick involving land near the location of a proposed Narragansett Indian casino.
In August 2010, the Judicial Nominating Commission recommended Montalbano among the finalists to fill four judicial vacancies: two in the District Court and two in the Superior Court. Former Gov. Donald L. Carcieri chose others for the positions.