Americans with Disabilities Act

Section 504 Grievance Procedure

The Rhode Island Judiciary has developed a voluntary internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discrimination against persons on the basis of disability in employment matters and/or in the provision of services by the court system or its personnel and which complaints allege acts or omissions prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

1. Complaint process

   1. Complaints should be addressed to:

      Erika Kruse Weller, Esquire
      General Counsel and ADA Coordinator
      Licht Judicial Complex
      Providence, Rhode Island 02903
      (401) 222-3266 or through RI RELAY at 7-1-1
      ada@courts.ri.gov

   2. A complaint should be filed in writing. It should contain the name, address, telephone (voice and/or TTY) numbers, and email address of the person filing the complaint, his/her representative or attorney, if any, and a brief description of the alleged violations including the date(s) and court personnel involved.

   3. A complaint should be filed within ten (10) business days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation.

   4. Complaints by court employees and applicants for court positions relating to employment discrimination based on disability, and complaints relating to discrimination based on a disability in the provision of services, may also be filed with the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, and in some cases with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights. In addition, the complainant may have other remedies, including those relating to federal agencies, such as the EEOC and the United States Department of Justice. Notice of any complaint shall be given to the ADA/504 Coordinator, the State Court Administrator, and to the court administrator and presiding/chief judge of the applicable court.

2. Investigation Process

   1. An investigation, as may be appropriate, will follow the filing of a complaint. The investigation will be conducted by ADA/504 Coordinator, or his/her designee, in consultation with the State Court Administrator for Employee Relations, and the Judicial Equal Opportunity Officer, and other court personnel, as warranted. This procedure contemplates informal but thorough investigation affording all interested persons and their representatives, if any, an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to a complaint. Mediation may be offered to the complainant at this level.

   2. A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, will be issued by the ADA/504 Coordinator, or his/her designee, and a copy forwarded to the complainant within fifteen (15) business days after the complaint has been received, unless further time is necessary or the deadline is extended by all parties and in writing. The ADA/504 Coordinator will maintain the files and records relating to the complaints filed. Complaints will remain confidential except to the extent necessary to conduct a review of the facts and to the extent authorized by law.