RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

John P. Bourcier papers (Ms.2009.005)

Brown University Library

Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Inventory

Series 1. Superior Court decisions, 1974-1995
Box 1, Folder 1-31
This series consists chiefly of decisions written by Judge Bourcier when he served on the Rhode Island Superior Court between 1974 and 1995. One Supreme Court decision, Capital Properties, Inc. vs. State of Rhode Island (92-273), is included. Some decisions contain Judge Bourcier's handwritten notes and corrections.

Since most of this material is not dated it is filed by docket number, regardless of any alphabetical prefix. For example, docket numbers beginning with KC (Kent County) are interfiled with docket numbers beginning with PC (Providence County). If a decision applied to more than one case the first docket number listed is used in filing. The folder titles indicate the first and last docket numbers in that folder. However, these folders do not include every docket number in between the first and last one listed.

The material in the last folder in this series, "Notes on cases and appellate review", consists of handwritten notes and summaries regarding some of Judge Bourcier's decisions as well as material related to the Superior Court's right to review decisions of the various state administrative agencies.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Docket # 68-3818
Box 1, Folder 2 Docket # 70-145 to 70-2266
Box 1, Folder 3 Docket # 71-575 to 71-3307
Box 1, Folder 4 Docket # 72-331 to 72-3356
Box 1, Folder 5 Docket # 73-308 to 73-3071
Box 1, Folder 6 Docket # 74-859 to 74-3573
Box 1, Folder 7 Docket # 75-862 to 75-4228
Box 1, Folder 8 Docket # 76-107 to 76-1130
Box 1, Folder 9 Docket # 76-1512 to 76-16961
Box 1, Folder 10 Docket # 76-2591 to 76-3183
Box 1, Folder 11 Docket # 76-3242 to 76-4079
Box 1, Folder 12 Docket # 77-349 to 77-2267
Box 1, Folder 13 Docket # 77-2340 to 77-3428
Box 1, Folder 14 Docket # 78-355 to 78-1929
Box 1, Folder 15 Docket # 79-4 to 79-910
Box 1, Folder 16 Docket # 79-972 to 79-4039
Box 1, Folder 17 Docket # 80-397 to 80-1242
Box 1, Folder 18 Docket # 82-696 to 82-1885
Box 1, Folder 19 Docket # 83-0534 to 83-5242
Box 1, Folder 20 Docket # 84-1499 to 84-4968
Box 1, Folder 21 Docket # 85-185 to 85-4444
Box 1, Folder 22 Docket # 86-0113 to 86-2172
Box 1, Folder 23 Docket # 87-0022 to 87-5719
Box 1, Folder 24 Docket # 88-0618 to 88-1654
Box 1, Folder 25 Docket # 89-0018 to 89-7052
Box 1, Folder 26 Docket # 90-1724 to 90-8077
Box 1, Folder 27 Docket # 91-0499 to 91-8024
Box 1, Folder 28 Docket # 92-273 to 92-7250
Box 1, Folder 29 Docket # 93-1529 to 93-6543
Box 1, Folder 30 Docket # 94-0163
Box 1, Folder 31 Notes on cases and appellate review

Series 2. Jury instructions
Box 2, Folder 32-47
This series consists of Judge Bourcier's instructions to juries on a variety of legal issues. Most of the instructions are handwritten and are not dated or arranged by topic. Some refer to a particular case or have a title such as "Self Defense". Judge Bourcier's original arrangement of this material has been retained.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 32 Jury instructions: 1 of 16
Box 2, Folder 33 Jury instructions: 2 of 16
Box 2, Folder 34 Jury instructions: 3 of 16
Box 2, Folder 35 Jury instructions: 4 of 16
Box 2, Folder 36 Jury instructions: 5 of 16
Box 2, Folder 37 Jury instructions: 6 of 16
Box 2, Folder 38 Jury instructions: 7 of 16
Box 2, Folder 39 Jury instructions: 8 of 16
Box 2, Folder 40 Jury instructions: 9 of 16
Box 2, Folder 41 Jury instructions: 10 of 16
Box 2, Folder 42 Jury instructions: 11 of 16
Box 2, Folder 43 Jury instructions: 12 of 16
Box 2, Folder 44 Jury instructions: 13 of 16
Box 2, Folder 45 Jury instructions: 14 of 16
Box 2, Folder 46 Jury instructions: 15 of 16
Box 2, Folder 47 Jury instructions: 16 of 16

Series 3. Subject files, 1975 Mar 14-2002 Sep 17
Box 2-3, Folder 48-86
This series contains a variety of material related to Judge Bourcier's professional activities while he served on the Rhode Island Superior Court and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

In addition to Subseries F. Correspondence, letters to and from Judge Bourcier may be found in Subseries A. Alternate dispute resolution, Subseries D. Cianci, Vincent A., Jr., Subseries E. Continuing legal education seminar, Subseries G. Future of the Courts, Subseries K. Town of Johnston speech, Subseries L. Trident II Plowshares trial and Subseries M. University of Rhode Island Forensic Science Partnership.

Subseries A. Alternate dispute resolution, 2001 May 21-2002 May 17
Box 2, Folder 48-52
This subseries contains material related to the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Task Force created by Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams in June 2001. Judge Bourcier served as co-chair of the Task Force along with Attorney Christine W. Ariel. The material includes correspondence, press releases, meeting agendas, Judge Bourcier's handwritten notes and the Task Force's recommendations.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 48 Creation of the ADR Task Force
2001 May 21-2001 Jul 15
Box 2, Folder 49 ADR meeting (2001 Nov 13)
2001 Oct 29-2001 Nov 13
Box 2, Folder 50 ADR meeting (2002 Jan 16)
2002 Jan 16
Box 2, Folder 51 ADR meeting (2002 Apr 22)
2002 Apr 10-2002 Apr 22
Box 2, Folder 52 ADR meeting (2002 May 17)
2002 May 13-2002 May 17

Subseries B. Articles, 1975 May 14-2001 Jan 31
Box 2, Folder 53-59
This subseries consists chiefly of newspaper articles regarding Judge Bourcier and the cases over which he presided. While most of the articles are from theProvidence Journal, other newspapers such as the Miami Herald and Christian Science Monitor are included. The material is arranged chronologically regardless of source.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 53 Newspaper articles
1975 Mar 14-1981 Nov 10
Box 2, Folder 54 Newspaper articles
1984 Mar 6-1984 Dec 10
Box 2, Folder 55 Newspaper articles
1985 Jan 15-1993 Sep 28
Box 2, Folder 56 Newspaper articles
1994 Mar 17-1994 Dec 19
Box 2, Folder 57 Article from The American Lawyer
1995 Apr
Box 2, Folder 58 Newspaper articles
1995 Jan 11-2001 Jan 31
Box 2, Folder 59 Newspaper articles
undated

Subseries C. Biographical information
Box 2, Folder 60
This subseries consists of a one-page reprint of biographical information about Judge Bourcier. It was taken from an online version ofThe Rhode Island Government Owner's Manual.

Subseries D. Cianci, Vincent A., Jr., 1984 Jan 31-1994
Box 2-3, Folder 61-64
Most of the material in this subseries concerns the 1984 trial of then Mayor of Providence Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. on charges of assault and kidnapping. The court order in the Correspondence file assigned Judge Bourcier to the case. The campaign flier is from Mayor Cianci's 1994 re-election campaign. It refers to the "Gun Court" over which Judge Bourcier presided.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 61 Court order
1984 Jan 31
Box 2, Folder 62 Correspondence
1984 Mar 7-1984 May 4
Box 3, Folder 63 Newspaper articles
1984 Feb 14-1984 Apr 20
Box 3, Folder 64 Campaign flier
undated

Subseries E. Continuing legal education seminar, 1994 Aug 19-1994 Aug 26
Box 3, Folder 65
This subseries contains a letter and evaluation form regarding Judge Bourcier's participation in a seminar on openings and summations.

Subseries F. Correspondence, 1975 Mar 17-1998 Aug 5
Box 3, Folder 66
This subseries contains correspondence to and from Judge Bourcier on a variety of topics. All the letters are related to his professional life and are not personal.

Subseries G. Future of the Courts, 1996 Jun-2001 Jun 11
Box 3, Folder 67-80
Judge Bourcier was the chairman of the Committee on the Future of the Courts, which was created in 1996 by Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger. Its purpose was to determine the technologies, methods and jurisprudential philosophies that would be needed for the Rhode Island judicial system in the twenty-first century.

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 67 Charting the Future of Iowa's Courts
1996 Jun
Box 3, Folder 68 Correspondence
1996 Jul 17-2001 May 23
Box 3, Folder 69 Judicial Structure Subcommittee
1997 May 14-2001 Feb 25
Box 3, Folder 70 Case Management Subcommittee
1999 Mar 23-2001 May 31
Box 3, Folder 71 Subcommittee to Study the Elimination of Appeals
2000 May 14-2001 Jun 19
Box 3, Folder 72 Court Structure Subcommittee
undated
Box 3, Folder 73 Final reports
2001 Mar-May
Box 3, Folder 74 Meeting attendance
2001 Apr 25
Box 3, Folder 75 Press releases
2001 May 7-2001 Jun 11
Box 3, Folder 76 Charge to the Committee
undated
Box 3, Folder 77 Lists of committee members
undated
Box 3, Folder 78 Motion by Judge Albert E. DeRobbio
undated
Box 3, Folder 79 A Quick Peek into The Future of the Courts
undated
Box 3, Folder 80 Judge Bourcier's notes
undated

Subseries H. Photographs, 1974, 1998
Box 3, Folder 81
This subseries contains a photograph of the members of the Rhode Island Superior Court in 1974 and a photograph of the members of the Rhode Island Supreme Court on the cover of the December 1998 Rhode Island Bar Journal.

Subseries I. Recent developments in the law
Box 3, Folder 82
This subseries consists of an outline written by Judge Bourcier regarding recent developments in the courts and civil procedure.

Subseries J. Samples of stationery
Box 3, Folder 83
These are samples Judge Bourcier's stationery. They were originally in a notebook and include envelopes, cards and writing paper.

Subseries K. Town of Johnston speech
Box 3, Folder 84
This subseries contains a letter to Judge Bourcier from the Mayor-elect of Johnston, Louis A. Perrotta, and two copies of a speech Judge Bourcier gave at Mr. Perrotta's inauguration.

Subseries L. Trident II Plowshares trial, 1985 Aug 12-1986 Mar 24
Box 3, Folder 85
Most of this subseries consists of letters to Judge Bourcier from the United States and abroad regarding the Trident II Plowshares trial. Some of the correspondence is in Russian. An undated cartoon regarding the case and a transcript of the sentencing hearing of Jean Halladay, one of the defendants, are also included in this series.

Subseries M. University of Rhode Island Forensic Science Partnership, 1999 Sep 9-2000 Sep 7
Box 3, Folder 86
Judge Bourcier was a member of the Advisory Board of the Forensic Science Partnership. This subseries contains material regarding the Board's partnership agreement with the Rhode Island Department of Health, lists of Board members, material regarding meetings and correspondence to and from Judge Bourcier.

Series 4. Opinions of the Honorable John P. Bourcier, 1995 Sep-2002 Aug
Box 4-5
This subseries consists of nine codices containing the opinions written by Judge Bourcier while he served on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Container Description Date
Box 4 Codices 1 through 7
1995 Sep-2000 Aug
Box 5 Codices 8 and 9
2000 Sep-2002 Aug