Mary M. Lisi
Encyclopedia
Mary Mona Lisi is the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
.
, Lisi earned a bachelor's degree in 1972 from the University of Rhode Island
and a law degree in 1977 from Temple University Beasley School of Law
.
Lisi concurrently worked in private legal practice from 1981 until 1982, when she took a job as Director of the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program for the Rhode Island Family Court. She held that job from 1982 until 1987. Lisi then became Deputy Disciplinary Counsel for the Rhode Island Supreme Court
from 1988 until 1990 and Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1990 until 1994, when she was tapped for a seat on the federal bench.
, Lisi was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1994 to a seat vacated by Francis Boyle
as Boyle assumed senior status
. The United States Senate
confirmed Lisi in a voice vote on May 6, 1994.
Lisi became the chief judge of her court in 2006.
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution...
.
Early life and education
Born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Lisi earned a bachelor's degree in 1972 from the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
and a law degree in 1977 from Temple University Beasley School of Law
Temple University Beasley School of Law
The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Temple University. Informally referred to as Temple Law School, the school is located at the Main Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Temple University James E...
.
Professional career
Lisi began her career as an assistant public defender in the Rhode Island Public Defender's Office, where she worked from 1977 until 1981. She then worked as an assistant child advocate for the Office of the Child Advocate for the State of Rhode Island from 1981 until 1982.Lisi concurrently worked in private legal practice from 1981 until 1982, when she took a job as Director of the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program for the Rhode Island Family Court. She held that job from 1982 until 1987. Lisi then became Deputy Disciplinary Counsel for the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Rhode Island Supreme Court
The Rhode Island Supreme Court, founded in 1747, is the court of last resort in the U.S. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices. The current Justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court are:*Chief Justice Paul A...
from 1988 until 1990 and Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1990 until 1994, when she was tapped for a seat on the federal bench.
Federal judicial service
On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Claiborne PellClaiborne Pell
Claiborne de Borda Pell was a United States Senator from Rhode Island, serving six terms from 1961 to 1997, and was best known as the sponsor of the Pell Grant, which provides financial aid funding to U.S. college students. A Democrat, he was that state's longest serving senator.-Early years:Pell...
, Lisi was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1994 to a seat vacated by Francis Boyle
Francis Boyle
Francis Anthony Boyle is a professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law. Boyle received a A.B. in Political Science from the University of Chicago, then a J.D. degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, and A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science from...
as Boyle assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed Lisi in a voice vote on May 6, 1994.
Lisi became the chief judge of her court in 2006.