R. David Cruise at a glance
- Current role
- Associate Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Rhode Island · State
- Judicial service
- Active
R. David Cruise
Associate Justice · Rhode Island Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court, appointed in 2021 by Governor Dan McKee to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon
- R. David Cruise became a Rhode Island Superior Court judge in 2021, replacing Bennett Gallo, who retired in February
- President Clinton appointed him Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Commerce Secretary’s office in 1993
- Position: Associate Justice, Rhode Island Superior Court (Providence County)
Education
- Suffolk University Law School — 1991 — Suffolk University Law School, 1991; bio-f1c36ca4240a; user_supplied_research
- Providence College — 1979 — Providence College, 1979; bio-f1c36ca4240a; user_supplied_research
Additional information
- Private practice as R. David Cruise, Esq., since 1998
- An attorney since 1991, Cruise returned to private practice after serving as Senior Advisor and Director of Legislative Affairs to Governor Gina Raimondo.
- The Governor’s official announcement directly confirms McKee swore him in March 27, 2021 at the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys & Girls Club.
- It also reports Traffic Tribunal service 2008–2015 and private firm ownership from 1998.
- Governor Bruce Sundlun selected him as chief of staff in 1991; before that he was Lieutenant Governor Thomas DiLuglio’s deputy chief of staff.
- He won the first of four consecutive Senate District 33 terms in 1984 and won election to Cumberland Town Council in 1976 at age 19, later becoming council president.
- Educational background includes Providence College, 1979
- Former Traffic Tribunal administrative magistrate, state executive and legislative staff official, and private practitioner.
- Earlier roles included Traffic Tribunal administrative magistrate, Rhode Island Senate chief of staff and Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation legal counsel.
- He has been a lifelong Boys & Girls Club member and advocate.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Cell Phone Use
Courtwide
Rhode Island Supreme Court courthouse rules prohibit cellular telephone use in courtrooms and prohibit cell-phone camera and video use in the courthouse.
Cellular telephone use is strictly prohibited in the courtrooms. Cellular telephone camera and video is strictly prohibited in the courthouse.Supreme Court Courthouse Rules ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Rhode Island courthouse rules list photographic and audio-visual equipment, including cameras and audio or video recorders, as prohibited items.
No photographic or audio-visual equipment of any type, including cameras, video, or audio recorders or players.Supreme Court Courthouse Rules ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Rhode Island Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rhode Island Judiciary official judicial roster ↗Calendars and Public Access to Court Hearings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Calendars and Public Access to Court Hearings ↗Supreme Court Courthouse Rules
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Court Courthouse Rules ↗Supreme Court Courthouse Rules, revised February 2024
Identity source · PDF · Source checked October 3, 2026
View Supreme Court Courthouse Rules, revised February 2024 ↗