Rules of practice which may be adopted from time to time by a majority of the judicial officers of the Superior Court and administrative orders promulgated by the presiding justice to further regulate the practice and conduct of business therein shall be deemed adopted under the power by which these rules are made and promulgated as well as pursuant to such other powers as the court may have. The designation of a rule of practice and the conduct of business as an “order” rather than as a “rule” is for purposes of convenience only and shall have no other effect.
Rule 83.Rules of Practice and Orders.
Current through February 2024 · Last verified July 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 83 lets the Superior Court's judicial officers adopt rules of practice and lets the presiding justice issue administrative orders to regulate court business, and it treats both as carrying the same authority regardless of the label used.
Full Text of Rule 83
Amendment History
Rhode Island does not publish a per-rule amendment history inside the compiled rules text reproduced here. The text above is verified current through the source’s own February 2024 printing; for the underlying adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Rhode Island Judiciary’s compiled rules page.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 83 explains how the Superior Court keeps its practice current between formal amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure. It lets a majority of the court's judicial officers adopt rules of practice, and it lets the presiding justice issue administrative orders that further regulate how business is conducted in the court.
The rule also settles a labeling question. Whether a directive is called a rule of practice or an order, it is deemed adopted under the same power that produced the Rules of Civil Procedure, plus any other authority the court may have. Calling something an “order” rather than a “rule” is for convenience only and has no other effect.
For anyone appearing in Superior Court, this means administrative orders and local practice rules can matter as much as the numbered Rules of Civil Procedure — both can bind how a case is handled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a rule of practice and an order under Rule 83?
Under Rule 83, there is no difference in effect. Both are adopted under the same authority; the court may call a directive a rule or an order purely as a matter of convenience, and the label does not change what it does.
Who can adopt these practice rules and administrative orders?
Rules of practice may be adopted by a majority of the Superior Court's judicial officers, and administrative orders may be promulgated by the presiding justice to further regulate the practice and conduct of business in the court.
Do these local rules and orders carry the same weight as the numbered Rules of Civil Procedure?
Yes. Rule 83 states that they are deemed adopted under the same power by which the Rules of Civil Procedure are made and promulgated, as well as pursuant to any other powers the court may have.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Rhode Island Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure (R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 83). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-6-2). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: rhode island superior court administrative orderslocal rules of practice rhode islandpresiding justice court ordersrule 83 rhode islanddifference between a court rule and an orderhow the superior court adopts practice rules