Judge’s ruling pauses ethics probe, lets Shekarchi’s Supreme Court seat pursuit play out in court

A judge has put on hold the ethics probe into former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s bid for a Supreme Court seat, allowing his legal battle to progress in court. Justice Richard A. Licht issued a temporary stay of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission’s investigation pending a hearing later this month. This move is crucial as it could determine whether Shekarchi’s application proceeds or faces further scrutiny, highlighting the complexities of ethical standards and legal processes in judicial appointments.