Portsmouth council appoints Alicia Anthony as municipal court judge after six interviews

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — The Portsmouth Town Council voted 5-2 at a special meeting to appoint Alicia Anthony, an attorney who practices in Newport, as the town's municipal court judge after interviewing six candidates.

Council members deliberated after about three hours of candidate interviews and discussion and instructed the town's human resources office to contact Anthony and the town solicitor to draft a services agreement. The council budgeted $9,410 a year for the position; the court typically meets once a month and the next municipal session is slated for August.

Anthony, who described herself as "a person committed to public service," told the council she has practiced in Rhode Island in several roles for almost 15 years and serves on nonprofit boards serving Newport and Aquidneck Island. She said she reviewed Portsmouth's municipal documents in advance and told councilors she could make the time required for the job: "I have time and capacity." She also said she had no business interests or real estate holdings in Portsmouth that would create conflicts: "I don't have any conflicts of interest."

During her interview Anthony emphasized that municipal courts handle quality-of-life issues the town faces, including zoning, short-term rentals and nuisance complaints, and said a judge must balance enforcement with practical solutions and referrals to services when appropriate. "Sometimes people who are frequent offenders are frequent offenders because they cannot afford whatever it may be," she said, while also affirming that fines and accountability are sometimes necessary.

Councilors questioned multiple candidates about familiarity with Portsmouth ordinances and the town comprehensive plan, scheduling and the stipend. Several councilors said they want a judge who can be fair but also ensure the court recovers costs and enforces ordinances consistently. Members noted the municipal judge sometimes must cover probate hearings and that the judge's schedule must allow for occasional special sessions.

After deliberations the council made the appointment by roll call; the motion passed 5-2. The council directed staff to have HR contact Anthony and to work with the town solicitor on a services contract. Councilors said they hope to have a judge in place for the next municipal court session in August.

Anthony answered questions from the council about conflicts, schedule and case approach and told members she would recuse when required by ordinance or conflict rules. The council did not publish voter names for the roll-call vote in the meeting record; the recorded outcome was 5 in favor, 2 opposed.

The council meeting included interviews with five other candidates: a candidate identified as Miss Rice; Peter Cosell of Jamestown; a candidate whose name was recorded as Babish; Michael Murray of Newport; and Kevin Gabriel, who said he was born in Portsmouth and returned to live in the town in 2022. Each candidate addressed experience with municipal issues, potential conflicts and how they would handle frequent repeat offenders and zoning or housing cases.

The council president said HR would notify the selected candidate and the solicitor would prepare a services agreement. The council also confirmed the filing deadline for items to appear on the next meeting agenda.

Notes: The council budget line for the municipal judge is $9,410 annually; the council indicated the court meets monthly and the next municipal session is scheduled for August.