2023 -- H 6379

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LC002984

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

RONALD R. LAGUEUX, THE FORMER UNITED STATES SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE OF

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, McEntee,
Newberry, Tanzi, Shallcross Smith, Ajello, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Honorable Ronald R. Lagueux, a highly respected former Federal Judge for the District of Rhode

Island, and the husband of his beloved wife, Denise for sixty-six years, the father of three

children, Michelle Lagueux and her husband, William Burgess, Gregory Lagueux, and Barrett

Lagueux Chapin and his wife, Betsy Chapin, the grandfather of Samuel Chapin, Gregory

Lagueux, Jr, Curtis Chapin, Jacqueline Lagueux, and James Chapin, and the great-grandfather of

Genevieve Chapin; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Lagueux was born in Lewiston, Maine, the only child of Arthur

Lagueux and Lauretta Lagueux. He attended Lewiston High School where he lettered in four

sports and received offers from The Cardinals and The Red Sox but chose to pursue academics,

earning his Bachelor’s degree cum laude from Bowdoin College. During his undergraduate years,

he once again demonstrated his athletic prowess earning several offers to play professional

baseball, but again chose to further his education, attaining his Juris Doctor from Harvard in

1956; and

     WHEREAS, Upon passing the Bar, Judge Lagueux was recruited by the law firm

Edwards & Angell. He moved to Rhode Island achieving great success as a practicing attorney

until 1963, when he took a two-year leave from the law firm to serve as Executive Council to

Governor John H. Chaffee; and

     WHEREAS, In 1964, Judge Lagueux returned to Edwards and Angel, specializing in

civil litigation and attaining the title of full partner. In 1968, he left the firm upon being

nominated to the RI Superior Court bench by then Governor Chaffe. In 1985, he was appointed

by then President Reagan to be a Federal Judge for the District of RI, where he served as Chief

Judge for seven years, and in 2001, became the senior member until his retirement in 2016; and

     WHEREAS, During his tenure on the U.S. District Court, Judge Lagueux presided with

distinction over numerous high-profile cases including the historic Station nightclub fire case and

is also credited with oversight of the renovation project aimed at preserving the integrity of the

historic courthouse; and

     WHEREAS, The Honorable Ronald Lagueux was an exceptional jurist who presided

with fairness and justice. He was beloved by his family and highly-respected by his peers, and he

will be profoundly missed by those who had the good fortune to be a part of his vital and

fulfilling life; now, therefore be it.

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

expresses deepest sympathies on the passing of the Honorable Ronald R. Lagueux; 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 Mrs. Denise Lagueux and Family.

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LC002984

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