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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |