--- title: "R. David Cruise | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-david-cruise-associate-justice-rhode-island-superior-court-ri" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # R. David Cruise 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 - 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. ## 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) - [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) - [governor.ri.gov](https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/r-david-cruise-sworn-rhode-island-superior-court-judge) - [opengov.sos.ri.gov](https://opengov.sos.ri.gov/GOVDirectoryPublic/ViewGOVDirectoryDetails?RelationID=5849&EntityID=3424&page=DetailJudge) - [www.ri.gov](https://www.ri.gov/press/view/40769) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-david-cruise-associate-justice-rhode-island-superior-court-ri", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-david-cruise-associate-justice-rhode-island-superior-court-ri", "name": "R. 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