2017 -- H 6378

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LC002999

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING RICHARD D. RASPALLO, ESQ., FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE

TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONGRATULATING HIM ON THE OCCASION OF

HIS APPOINTMENT AS MAGISTRATE OF THE RHODE ISLAND SUPERIOR COURT

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Serpa, Corvese, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: September 19, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, For more than fourteen years, Richard D. Raspallo, Esq., has been a

dedicated and valued employee of the General Assembly, bringing a combination of legal

knowledge and a measured approach to legal and legislative issues to his work; and

     WHEREAS, A long-time resident of Cranston, Rhode Island, Richard graduated from the

University of Rhode Island in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Psychology, and

Secondary Education, and subsequently obtained his law degree from the Roger Williams

University School of Law in 1997; and

     WHEREAS, After graduating from law school, Richard worked as an attorney in his own

practice. He also worked as a member of the adjunct faculty at Johnson and Wales University

and as the assistant city solicitor for the City of Cranston; and

     WHEREAS, In June of 2003, Richard began his legal career with the General Assembly

as a part-time attorney with the Office of the Legislative Council, where he developed a

reputation as a hard-working dedicated attorney, so much so that he was asked to serve as interim

legal counsel to the Rhode Island House Finance Committee during the 2009 session; and

     WHEREAS, In February of 2010, Richard became Chief Legal Counsel to then House

Majority Leader Nicholas A. Mattiello, and in March of 2014, he became Chief Legal Counsel to

now Speaker Mattiello; and

     WHEREAS, Richard has worked hand in hand with Speaker Mattiello to help navigate

the House of Representatives through many challenges which face all legislatures today; Richard

has worn multiple hats as legal counsel, confidant, adviser, advocate, and friend, not only to the

Speaker, but to other members of this House, our staff, and our colleagues in the Senate. Further,

while working in these high-profile positions, Richard’s demeanor, his willingness to listen to all

sides, his openness to compromise, and his ability to work collaboratively yet act decisively, has

earned him the admiration and respect of his fellow workers as well as all the members of the

General Assembly; and

     WHEREAS, While the demands of his work at the General Assembly have been very

time consuming, Richard has regularly volunteered his time to share his knowledge of

government and law with others, including his many trips to high schools to work with students

on constitutional issues in the Rhode Island Judiciary’s annual Law Day program, and giving

presentations on legislative drafting and the legislative process to attorneys through seminars

conducted with the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Government Lawyers Committee; and

     WHEREAS, Richard is the proud son of Thomas and Ann Raspallo, and a devoted father

to his three boys, Thomas, James, and Michael; and

     WHEREAS, Richard was recently appointed by Superior Court Presiding Justice Alice

B. Gibney to become a Rhode Island Superior Court Magistrate. In this instance, the General

Assembly’s loss results in the Superior Court’s gain; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses its heartfelt appreciation to Richard D. Raspallo for the

countless hours and frequently lengthy days he has worked over the course of the past fourteen

and a half years with the General Assembly. We wish him continued success as a magistrate of

the Rhode Island Superior Court, where we fully expect his measured approach to law and justice

will make him a valuable asset to the Judiciary as well as to the people of the state; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Richard D. Raspallo, Esq.

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LC002999

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