Erin Lynch Prata

Erin Patricia Lynch Prata (born May 17, 1975 in Warwick, Rhode Island) is an American politician and an Associate Justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. She previously served in the Rhode Island Senate representing District 31 since January 2009. Lynch Prata served as Chairwoman on the Senate Committee on Judiciary, as well as a member of the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight and the Senate Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans' Affairs.[4] She focused on issues including public education, economic development, job growth, health care and environmental protection.[5] She was confirmed to be an Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court in December 2020.

Erin Lynch Prata
Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Appointed byGina Raimondo
Preceded byGilbert V. Indeglia
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
from the 31st district
In office
January 2009 – November 2020
Preceded byJohn C. Revens Jr.
Succeeded byKendra Anderson
Personal details
Born
Erin Patricia Lynch[1]

(1975-05-17) May 17, 1975
Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJoseph A. Prata Jr.[2][3]
Residence(s)Warwick, Rhode Island
EducationBoston College (BA)
Catholic University of America (JD)

Early life and education

She is the ninth of ten children of John and Pat Lynch, all of whom were born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island.[6]

She attended Cedar Hill School and Winman Junior High School before graduating from Toll Gate High School in 1993.[6] She earned her Bachelor of Arts in history from Boston College in 1997 and her Juris Doctor from Columbus School of Law in 2000.[5][6][7]

After graduating from law school, she was a law clerk for Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.[7][6] She has practiced law with her own law firm in Warwick and is an attorney with Lynch, Bernard & Lynch (now Lynch, Lynch and Friel).[6][7]

Political career

Elections
  • 2016: Lynch Prata was unopposed in both the Democratic primary on September 13, 2016 and the general election on November 8, 2016.[8]
  • 2014: Lynch Prata was unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 9, 2014. She defeated independent candidate James Roche in the general election on November 4, 2014 with 6,149 votes (63.9%).[8]
  • 2012: Lynch Prata was unopposed for both the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,103 votes,[9] and the November 6, 2012 General election, winning with 9,862 votes.[10]
  • 2010: Lynch Prata was unopposed for both the September 23, 2010 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,604 votes,[11] and the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 7,261 votes.[12]
  • 2008: When District 31 Democratic Senator John C. Revens, Jr. retired and left the seat open, Lynch Prata won the September 9, 2008 Democratic Primary by 10 votes with 859 votes (50.3%),[13] and won the November 4, 2008 General election with 7,775 votes (60.1%) against Republican nominee Thomas Madden,[14] who had run for the seat in 2006.

Rhode Island Supreme Court

On December 8, 2020, Governor Gina Raimondo nominated Lynch Prata to be an associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.[15] The Rhode Island Senate confirmed her nomination on December 18, 2020.[16] She was sworn in on January 4, 2021.[17]

Personal life

She is married to Joseph Prata of Warwick.

References
  1. United States Public Records, 1970-2009 (Rhode Island, 1996-2007)
  2. The marriage of state Sen. Erin P. Lynch to Joseph A. Prata Jr. took place Oct. 24.
  3. About Erin (Campaign website)
  4. "Senator Erin Lynch Prata". Providence, Rhode Island: Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  5. "Biography: Senator Erin P. Lynch". Senator Erin P. Lynch, RI District 31 Re-election 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  6. Attorney Erin Lynch Prata
  7. Erin Lynch Prata's Biography - Vote Smart
  8. "Erin Lynch Prata". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  9. "2012 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 31". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  10. "2012 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 31". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  11. "2010 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 31". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  12. "2010 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 31". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  13. "2008 Statewide Primary, Senator in General Assembly District 31". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  14. "2008 General Election, Senator in General Assembly District 31". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  15. "Raimondo makes historic nomination to state Supreme Court". SFGATE. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  16. "Senate confirms slate of groundbreaking judicial appointments". Senate confirms slate of groundbreaking judicial appointments. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  17. "RI high court gains first woman of color". WPRO. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
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