Frank Williams Sucks .com

Welcome.

This is a non-commercial webpage which exists to offer citizen criticism of RI Chief Justice Frank J. Williams. Citizen input is good citizenship.

Williams seems to feel he is above the law, and his gigantic ego has resulted in a constitutional crisis in the state of Rhode Island.

Our basic gripe is that Justice Williams has put himself above the law and engaged in a number of conflicts of interest which cast doubt on his integrity and that of his office.

Specifically, Williams has put himself above the RI State Constitution, which bars dual office holding to avoid conflicts of interest and divided loyalties. Williams took a position with a US government military review panel, despite his constitutional obligations not to do so.

Williams precipitated a legal challenge, which resulted in RI Attorney General Patrick Lynch defending him in the matter. Attorney Keven McKenna alleged that Williams had already vacated his office by taking another appointment under another government.

This case is clearly related to this personal decision of Williams, not his official duties. So, why was Williams entitled to representation by the State Attorney General? This spawned another conflict of interest. Williams seemed very pleased to have the free legal services of the RI Attorney General --despite the conflicts of interest that could arise if and when the Attorney General might have to appear before his court on other matters, and the very real conflict of interest that arises because the Attorney General is the designated official charged with bringing "Quo Warranto" actions against officials such as Williams.

There is also a use of staff question. According to Providence Journal reports, Frank J. Williams has utilized state personnel, former Court Administrator Thomas Bowman, a law clerk, to assist him with regard to his non-RI position as member of the Militiary Review Panel of the DOD after he applied and was accepted for the position on December 30, 2003.

Also, it was reported that Williams paid one of his subordinates to design a personal website, which raises another conflict of interest question.

Now, it comes to light that Williams dismissed a lawsuit against a powerful State Senator who had control over Williams' court budgetary matters, yet ANOTHER conflict of interest.

So there you have it --1 judge --and at least 6 conflicts of interest, all of his making.

Here are some links and news stories about Frank Williams' conflicts of interest and official actions, along with some other helpful links.

News Stories

NEW! Bill Palazzo: After court sided with senator, Senate backed courthouse --May 4, 2008. From The Providence Journal. Chief Justice Frank Williams completely destroys whatever confidence the public had in the RI judiciary.
Courthouse Now Planned For Smithfield --April 11, 2008. From The Providence Journal. What a coincidence! The Williams court blocks the Palazzo lawsuit against Senator Alves, and only days later, Judge Williams announces plans for his new courthouse in Smithfield! The taxpayer tab for the new courthouse is a reported $88.58 million. Hmmm, which powerful Judge set himself up for another conflict of interest? What amazing timing!! See AlvesSucks.com
Ruling Blocks Suit Against Lawmaker --April 10, 2008. From The Providence Journal. What a coincidence! The Williams court blocks the Palazzo lawsuit against Senator Alves, and only days later, Judge Williams announces plans for his new courthouse in Smithfield! The taxpayer tab for the new courthouse is a reported $88.58 million. Hmmm, which powerful Judge set himself up for another conflict of interest? What amazing timing!! See AlvesSucks.com
Justice Williams’s patronage grab --July 3, 2007. From The Providence Journal.
Chief Justice is Latest to be Vilified on Web Site --August 17, 2005. From The Pawtucket Times. Yay! We made the paper!!
Citizen Jim Cavanaugh blasts Williams --June 19, 2005. Letter in The Providence Journal.
High Court Denies McKenna's Request --June 17, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
State Supreme Court refuses petition of Chief Justice Lawsuit --June 17, 2005. From Boston.com.
AG criticizes McKenna's new motion --June 16, 2005. From the Providence Journal. Ridiculous reasoning from the RI AG's office attempts to repeal part of the RI Constitution by implication.
McKenna Takes on Williams Again --June 14, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
Williams: Judiciary Under Siege --June 11, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
Retired Justice Criticizes Williams Ruling --June 8, 2005. From the Providence Journal. "Flanders said: The general rule is that repeals by implication are disfavored. The notion that when the legislature changed the way of selecting judges it intended to change the dual office-holding ban is, in my judgment, a real stretch."
RI High Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Chief Justice --June 7, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
RI High Court Dismisses Suit Trying to Oust Williams --June 6, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
Supreme Conflict --May 27, 2005. From the Providence Phoenix. "In a 2004 law review article entitled "Culture of Quiescence," Roger Williams University professor Carl T. Bogus argued that Rhode Island judges, including Williams, were overly sensitive to criticism. Bogus charged that when he differed with Williams position in an op-ed piece, the chief justice responded with a sharp rebuttal, and sent a copy to his boss, the law school dean — a move, Bogus says, that seemed designed to 'intimidate or punish' him."
High Court To Expedite Ruling in Williams Case --May 25, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
Williams Sought Opinion on Joining Tribunal --May 24, 2005. From the Providence Journal. "When McKenna first filed the suit, Williams said, "We researched the issue thoroughly prior to my accepting the appointment." McKenna questioned whether "we" included other Supreme Court justices, saying that if so, those justices should recuse themselves. On Friday, the high court said some justices had seen a staff attorney's memo to Williams about the matter, but they felt they could still be impartial. Yesterday, in response to questions about who "we" referred to, courts spokeswoman Dyana Koelsch provided The Journal with a copy of an e-mail exchange between former state Court Administrator Thomas G. Bowman and Jenkins. Bowman, who left the court administrator's job a year ago, wrote to Jenkins on Jan. 13, 2004, about two weeks before Williams' appointment was announced." Why is Williams using RI staff for non-RI business? Since when do some obscure laws or some obscure precedent trump the State Constitution?
Terror suspect's lawyers join fight to oust Williams --May 20, 2005. From the Providence Journal. "Katyal noted state prosecutors often argue cases before the Supreme Court, saying the attorney general's role representing Williams is "fundamentally at odds with his role as an attorney acting 'in the public interest.' To vest the attorney general with the power to block the removal of a chief justice, no matter the constitutional violation, would effect a massive change in Rhode Island law and destabilize the vision of the drafters of the 1843 Constitution," Katyal wrote. "It would repose this vital check on government abuse in the hands of an official who, no matter how good his intentions may be, faces both a structural conflict of interest and a conflict stemming from the duty of loyalty inherent in an attorney-client relationship."
Civil War Talk Radio: Frank J. Williams: Judging History --April 15, 2005. AKA:The Frank Williams Show.
Dedication Day Address -November 19, 2004. Gettysburg.
NEW! Edward Achorn: Legacy of a power grab --January 4, 2005. From the Providence Journal.
RI Judges Are Accused of 'Punishing Critics' --June 30, 2004. From The Providence Journal via Caught.net

Primary Sources and Other Documents

RI Constitution --Attorney Keven McKenna contends Williams violated Article III, Section 6.
Full Time Provisions --RI law requires judges sit on the bench "full time."
Time Outs --Frankie has a very full dance card.
RI Supreme Court Dismisses McKenna's suit [.PDF file] --June 6, 2005
Grant of Certiorari Order [.PDF file] --Dated May 12, 2005. Another official document in the McKenna V. Williams case.
Superior court apoints 3 justices to hear the case [.PDF file] --Keven McKenna, p.c. et al v. Frank Williams et al, No. 05-1773.
Memo In Support of Preliminary Injunction --April 2005. Large legal document by Attorney Keven McKenna.
Rumsfeld Swears in Williams, King Frank mints his own coinage --September 21, 2004. DOD News.
Frank Williams Bio [.PDF file] --Military Review Commission.
Culture of Quiescence [.PDF file] --June 30, 2004. Roger Williams University Law School Professor Carl T. Bogus lifts the veil on how the RI Judiciary allegedly bullies and intimidates lawyers.
Frank J. Williams .com --This is the controversial website where Williams solicited speaking engagements, and which he paid a subordinate to design. Due to the controversy it created, it was eventually taken down.

Other Resources

NEW! RI Supreme Court .com --Bill Palazzo's protest page.
Narragansett Indian Casino --The fat cats will get fatter.

Other Sucks Pages

Alves Sucks --Sued a constituent just to shut him up.
Patrick Lynch Sucks --Highly conflicted RI Attorney General who defended Williams.
Tim Williamson Sucks -Who does this guy represent?
Langevin Sucks --Union toady.
Patrick Kennedy Sucks --Another "Above the Law-er" helped to put President Clinton above the law.
Jack Reed Sucks --Clinton lapdog.
Sheldon Whitehouse Sucks -Another Clinton cronie.

Domain Free Speech Links

ChillingEffects.org --"Chilling Effects aims to help you understand the protections that the First Amendment and intellectual property laws give to your online activities."
EFF.org -The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend loses second WIPO case --Public officials sometimes try to make bogus trademark claims to grab domains and avoid citizen/ constituent criticism
Maryland Politician Loses Domain Case --Kathleen Kennedy Townsend loses domain dispute. Public officials are fair game for criticism.
DorsetPolice.Com/ .Net Precedent --Actual decision text stating that descriptive domain names are allowed in government free speech situations. The finding was "there is a general, legitimate interest in allowing citizens to use descriptive domain names to publish criticism about their government."

Cop's Critic Can Keep Domains --News story on the Dorset case.

Williams just doesn't get it. His arguments are very legalistic, and show he completely misses the point. The point is that the standard for government officials, especially the judiciary, should be very high. Even the appearance of impropriety should be avoided.

All of Lynch's and Williams' legal defenses are besides the point. The point is that the confidence of the public has been eroded.

Our conclusion is that Williams might want to consider moving out of state. Rhode Island is a very small state, and it may not be large enough to hold his ego.

Please feel free to contact us with comments, corrections, or editorial suggestions.

Also, please let us know about any additional conflicts of interest ;)

i. This website is not affiliated with Chief Justice Frank Williams! Duh!

ii. Photo by Richard McCaffrey, and used without permission under the doctrine of "fair use."

iii. Thinking about official retribution? The undersigned publisher is not an attorney, so go eff yourself!

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