What You Need to Know About Middletown’s Probate Judge

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As a resident of Middletown, you deserve transparency from public officials—especially those in positions of trust. The following outlines a pattern of questionable and self-serving conduct by our Probate Court Judge that has impacted not only individual residents but the broader community:

The judge sold inherited properties along Aquidneck Avenue for $800,000 to a client of his law firm.  The sales included provisions that disadvantaged the client but personally benefited the judge and his family, including an indisputable conflict of interest. 

In January 2024, the judge actively opposed a planning and zoning application submitted by his own firm on behalf of the same client who had purchased the property. This last-minute objection forced his law partner to recuse himself, leaving the client without representation just before critical hearings—an act of personal retaliation rather than professional integrity.

As part of his objection, the judge challenged the town’s long-standing interpretation of corner-lot setbacks. This led the Town Council to quietly pass a new ordinance in 2024, affecting the buildable area on all corner lots—commercial properties in particular. The change benefitted the judge by devaluing property he had sold and making approval much more complex for the client, yet the public was never informed of his role in driving the revision, nor reminded that for 30 years he sat as Town Solicitor and had no issue with the zoning interpretations prior.

Despite the client’s victory before the Planning Board on February 12, 2025, the judge has continued his campaign—now suing both the client and the Planning Board. His actions at public meetings, documented in transcripts and video recordings, show a pattern of aggressive, untruthful behavior to serve personal interests.

For decades, the judge and his family neglected the properties in question. The current owner—whom the judge now targets—has transformed the site into something the community can be proud of. Yet, the judge continues to attack rather than acknowledge the improvement.

We Believe You Deserve the Full Story

We are committed to sharing the documents, transcripts, and visual evidence that support these facts. Our goal is simple: ensure that Middletown residents understand how the actions of one official have harmed private citizens, disrupted town policy, and undermined public trust.

This is about accountability. This is about integrity. And above all, this is about Middletown.

If you’re interested in reviewing the documents or getting involved, please contact us.