Top R.I. Judge Resigns; Faced Impeachment

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Bevilacqua, the subject of impeachment hearings in the Legislature, on Wednesday resigned the post he has held for 10 years.

Bevilacqua, 67, has been the focus of daily impeachment hearings before the House Judiciary Committee that have detailed his ties to reputed mobsters, alleged adulterous affairs and suspected misuse of state contractors.

Bevilacqua submitted his resignation to Gov. Edward DiPrete, one of several top state officials who had been calling for the resignation since December, 1984.

Bevilacqua cited the controversies of the last two years and their effect on his health for his resignation, effective June 30.

“Over the past two years, my family, friends and indeed myself have suffered greatly, both emotionally and physically,” Bevilacqua said in the letter.

“The current proceedings have caused a deterioration in my health to such a degree that I can no longer continue in my present capacity as chief justice. . . . These proceedings have not only taxed myself, my family and my friends, but have also caused a substantial financial burden on the people of the state of Rhode Island.”

Former House Speaker

The Rhode Island House accepted the resignation letter without comment. Bevilacqua was House speaker from 1969 to 1975.

DiPrete hailed the resignation as “the closing page in this unhappy chapter in Rhode Island history.” He then hinted there might be an attempt to seek criminal charges against Bevilacqua.

“It is my understanding that all records pertaining to alleged criminal acts, if any, from these proceedings will be turned over to the attorney general for further review,” DiPrete said.

Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Benjamin R. Civiletti, House special impeachment counsel, said he thought Bevilacqua “did the right thing,” but he declined comment on whether there may be basis for criminal charges.

The furor surrounding the chief justice began in December, 1984, when the Providence Journal detailed meetings between Bevilacqua and several reputed members of the Rhode Island underworld.

The chief justice was seen several times meeting with Robert A. Barbato, a twice-convicted criminal, whom Bevilacqua described as a longtime friend. He was also spotted by the newspaper and state police investigators loading groceries into his car from a food warehouse run by reputed mobster Bernadino Contenti.