Judge Ernest C. Torres (Ret) - Arbitrator / Mediator

Judge Ernest C. Torres has more than 21 years of experience as a federal trial judge; 5 years of experience as a state court trial judge and 14 years of experience in the general practice of law counseling business clients and representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation.

During his years on the federal court, Judge Torres presided over many high profile trials and hundreds of other jury and non-jury trials dealing with a wide range of legal issues. He also has written numerous published opinions, including several authored while sitting by invitation on the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

As a Judge and, before that as a practicing lawyer, Judge Torres has conducted or represented clients in countless settlement conferences and negotiations and he recently helped to successfully mediate a highly publicized dispute between a school district and a teachers’ union over the termination of all of the teachers at the district’s high school.

Judge Ernest C. Torres was a United States District Judge (1988-2011) - wide variety of civil and criminal cases in administrative law, anti-trust, business and commercial matters, civil and criminal forfeiture, constitutional law, contracts, employment, environmental law (including CERCLA cases), insurance coverage, intellectual property, medical malpractice, personal injury, product liability, public corruption, securities fraud and white collar crime.

• Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Dec. 1, 1999-Nov. 30, 2006), responsible for administrative oversight of the court
  

• Member of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the 26 member policy making and governing body for all federal courts (2006-2008)
  
  

• Member of the Judicial Conference – Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules (1999-2005)

• Member of the Judicial Conference – Committee on Judicial Resources (1991-1997)
  

• Member of the First Circuit Judicial Council (the policy making and governing body for federal courts within the First Circuit)(1991-1994; 1997-1999)
  

• Associate Justice, Rhode Island Superior Court (1980-1985)
  

Other Professional Experience

• Adjunct Professor, Roger William University Law School
• Partner, Tillinghast, Collins & Graham, Providence, Rhode Island (1986-1988), concentration in business matters and civil litigation
• Assistant Vice President, Aetna Life & Casualty Co. (1985-1986), responsible for developing and managing 24 staff counsel offices throughout the United States; dealing with coverage issues such as those relating to asbestos and environmental damage claims
• Partner, Saunders & Torres, East Greenwich, Rhode Island (1974-1980), general practice and civil litigation
• Associate, Hinckley, Allen, Salisbury & Parsons, Providence, Rhode Island (1968-1974), general practice and civil litigation

Governmental Experience

• Rhode Island House of Representatives (1974-1980), Deputy Minority Leader (1976-1980)
• President, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Town Council (1972-1974)
• Former Director, Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Corporation

Education

• Dartmouth College (A.B. 1963), Major in Government, Alfred P. Sloan Scholar
• Duke University School of Law (J.D. 1968), Duke University Scholarship
• Federal Judicial College, 2 two week programs for trial judges

Honorary Degrees

• Bryant University (May 17, 2007), Doctor of Humane Letters
• Roger Williams University Law School (May 19, 2006), Doctor of Law

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Trustee, South County Hospital (2007-Present)
• Lifetime Member, Duke University School of Law Board of Visitors
• Former Director, Greater Providence YMCA
• Former Trustee, East Greenwich, Rhode Island Free Public Library
• Former Director, Rhode Island Conservation Law Foundation