Chief justice candidates to be interviewed

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The candidates to become the next chief justice of Rhode Island’s top court get to plead their case this week.

The state Judicial Nominating Commission will interview the six candidates on Tuesday. Former Chief Justice Frank Williams retired in December.

The four current justices - Maureen McKenna Goldberg, Paul Suttell, Francis Flaherty and William Robinson - are seeking to be chief. The other two candidates are U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and Superior Court Judge Francis Darigan.

A public hearing is set for the following Tuesday, March 31, with a vote scheduled that day.

The commission is required to send three to five candidates to Gov. Don Carcieri. Lawmakers must confirm the nominee Carcieri selects.