---
title: "Maria Ferro Deaton | KnowJudges"
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page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Maria Ferro Deaton

Rhode Island Superior Court · Associate Justice

## Profile

- Court: Rhode Island Superior Court
- State: Rhode Island
- Role: Associate Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Also serves as Housing Court Judge in Providence (since April 2023)
- Governor McKee nominated Deaton in April 2026 to fill the Superior Court vacancy created by Justice Wilk Thunberg’s retirement
- Maria Ferro Deaton became RI Superior Court Associate Justice June2026,appointed by Dan McKee replacing Melanie Wilk Thunberg
- Previously Probate Court Judge in East Providence (2019–2026)
- Previously a Rhode Island and Massachusetts criminal prosecutor and a Lynch & Pine partner from 2011
- Lynch & Pine partner from2011,civil/criminal litigation,torts,contracts,business
- Replaced Associate Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg

### Education


### Additional information

- Sworn in on June 5, 2026.
- RI special assistant AG2006–2011,criminal trial work
- Cape & Islands Massachusetts ADA1999–2005 major felonies
- Yuma Arizona solo practice opened1997,personal injury/family/criminal.
- Providence College political science BA1993,New England Law JD1996.
- Deaton’s prosecutorial work included narcotics trafficking, motor vehicle homicides, DUI, domestic violence, and sexual assault cases.
- Portuguese-speaking judicial liaison and police-academy instructor.
- She has also been involved in litigation settlement negotiations, pre-trial matters, and complex civil cases
- RW law/advanced trial advocacy teacher;RI Bar,RI criminal defense association,Women’s Bar memberships.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### cell phone use

Scope: courtwide

Rhode Island Supreme Court courthouse rules prohibit cellular telephone use in courtrooms and prohibit cell-phone camera and video use in the courthouse.

Evidence excerpt: Cellular telephone use is strictly prohibited in the courtrooms. Cellular telephone camera and video is strictly prohibited in the courthouse.

[Supreme Court Courthouse Rules](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### recording equipment

Scope: courtwide

Rhode Island courthouse rules list photographic and audio-visual equipment, including cameras and audio or video recorders, as prohibited items.

Evidence excerpt: No photographic or audio-visual equipment of any type, including cameras, video, or audio recorders or players.

[Supreme Court Courthouse Rules](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/JudicialRoster.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/JudicialRoster.pdf)
- [Rhode Island Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/JudicialRoster.pdf)
- [Calendars and Public Access to Court Hearings](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Pages/PublicAccessCourtHearings.aspx)
- [Supreme Court Courthouse Rules](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
- [Governor swearing-in announcement, June 5, 2026](https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/governor-mckee-swears-new-judges-rhode-island-superior-court)
- [Supreme Court Courthouse Rules, revised February 2024](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
- [www.linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-ferro-deaton-05549043)

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