R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 34-37 § 34-37-6
Judicial review and enforcement
Operative Text
(a) Any complainant, intervener, or respondent claiming to be aggrieved by a final order of the commission may obtain judicial review thereof, and the commission may obtain an order of court for its enforcement, in a proceeding as provided in this section. The proceeding shall be brought in the superior court of the state within any county wherein the unlawful housing practices which are the subject of the commission's order were committed or wherein any respondent, required in the order to cease and desist from unfair housing practices or to take other affirmative action, resides or transacts business. (b) The proceeding shall be initiated by the filing of a petition in the court, and the service of a copy of the petition upon the commission and upon all parties who appeared before the commission. Thereupon the court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and of the questions determined therein, and shall have power to grant such temporary relief or restraining order as it deems just and proper, and to make and enter upon the pleadings, testimony, and proceedings set forth in the transcript an order enforcing, modifying, and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part the order of the commission. (c) An objection that has not been urged before the commission, its member, or agent shall not be considered by the court, unless the failure or neglect to urge the objection shall be excused because of extraordinary circumstances. (d) If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shall show to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce the evidence in the hearing before the commission, its member, or agent, the court may order the additional evidence to be taken before the commission, its member, or agent and to be made a part of the transcript. (e) The commission may modify its findings as to the facts, or make new findings, by reason of additional evidence so taken and filed. The commission shall file the modified or new findings and its recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of its original order. (f) The jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and order shall be, when necessary, subject to review by the supreme court as provided by law, to which court appeal from the judgment and order may be made as provided by law. (g) The commission's copy of the testimony shall be available at all reasonable times to all parties without cost of examination and for the purposes of judicial review of the order of the commission. The petition shall be heard on the transcript of the record without requirement of printing. (h) The commission may appear in court by its own attorneys. (i) If no proceeding to obtain judicial review is instituted by a complainant, intervener, or respondent within thirty (30) days from the service of an order of the commission pursuant to subsection (h) of § 34-37-5, the commission or the complainant may obtain a decree of the court for the enforcement of the order upon showing that respondent is subject to the commission's jurisdiction, and resides or transacts business within the county in which the petition for enforcement is brought. (j) The commission may proceed in the same manner as provided in § 28-5-13 as to the powers, duties, and rights of the commission, its members, hearing examiners, the complainant, intervener, and respondent.
Section 34-37-6 of Rhode Island General Laws establishes the process by which final orders issued by the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights in housing discrimination cases can be reviewed or enforced by the courts. Any party to a commission proceeding who is aggrieved by a final order may petition the Superior Court in the county where the alleged unlawful housing practices occurred or where the respondent does business. The Superior Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over these proceedings, with further appeal available to the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and the commission itself may seek a court enforcement decree if no judicial review is sought within 30 days of the order.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 34-37-6, a property owner or manager who is subject to a commission order has the right to seek judicial review by filing a petition in the appropriate Superior Court within 30 days of being served with that order. Compliant operators generally preserve all objections during the commission hearing itself, since courts will not consider arguments that were not raised before the commission except in extraordinary circumstances. Operators who transact business in the county where the alleged unlawful housing practices occurred should be aware that the Superior Court in that county is the proper venue for any such review proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 34-37-6 gives complainants and interveners in housing discrimination cases the right to petition the Superior Court for judicial review if they believe a final commission order is incorrect or insufficient. If a respondent does not seek review within 30 days of the commission's order, a complainant may join the commission in asking the court to enforce that order directly. Tenants who believe their rights under Chapter 34-37 have been affected by a commission ruling may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the procedural steps and deadlines involved in pursuing or responding to court review.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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