Providence Journal photos / Bob Breidenbach
Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter listens to arguments from both sides this morning.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter heard arguments Monday on whether she should continue to oversee a case challenging last year's state pension overhaul law until the state Supreme Court rules on a state motion that she be replaced.
The state argues that Taft-Carter's impartiality could be questioned since her mother collects a death benefit pension and her son is a state trooper potentially in line for a public pension.
Noting that the Sunday Journal also reported that Taft-Carter has an uncle receiving a state pension, John Tarantino, a lawyer for the state said, "it is another concern".
Lawyer Mark Gursky, representing firefighters, argued the case was about the millions of dollars owed thousands of state workers, not about the family of the judge, who out of necessity should stay on since every other Rhode Island judge is in the same pension system.
It could take several days before Taft-Carter, who ruled last month that she would not recuse herself, rules whether she will wait to hear from the higher court.
Representing the State of Rhode Island, lawyer John Tarantino makes a point in Judge Sarah Taft-Carter's courtroom this morning. At far right is lawyer Jim Lee. Seated at left are prosecuting attorneys Marc Gursky and Lynette Labinger.