PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Senate Thursday approved Governor Chafee's nominations of state court magistrates to the Superior Court and the Family Court bench.
The Senate voted 34 to 0 to elevate District Court Magistrate and ex-Senate President Joseph Montalbano to Superior Court judge and Family Court Magistrate Patricia Asquith as judge in the court she has served since 2002. Both are lifetime seats.
The Senate Judiciary Committee moved Asquith's nomination on to the full Senate after an emotional hearing earlier in the afternoon. Her husband, Harry, died last week after an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Chafee will swear-in Asquith this evening.
Montalbano thanked his former colleagues after the vote. ".. and, Teresa, I know you moved mountains for me to make this day possible," he said to Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed.
He explained later that he knew he had Weed and Judiciary Committee Chairman Michael McCaffrey's strong support.