The Hon. James J. Caruolo is an associate judge for the Rhode Island District Court. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Gina Raimondo on July 21, 2016, filling a newly-created seat designed to expand the Veterans Treatment Court Calendar.
Prior to his appointment, Caruolo was an attorney in private practice, supplementing his practice with service as Assistant Town Solicitor for the Town of North Providence. Before that, he spent time as an assistant attorney general in the Appellate Division, the District Court Unit, and the Narcotics & Organized Crime Unit of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
Caruolo earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Rhode Island College in 1988. He then completed a J.D. at Suffolk University Law School in 1991. He is admitted to practice in Rhode Island (1991), Massachusetts (1992), the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and Sixth Circuit, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island and the District of Massachusetts.
His memberships have included the Board of the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center.
A resident of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Caruolo is a member of the Army National Guard. In that capacity, he has served as a State Judge Advocate, obtaining the rank of Colonel.