By WPRO News

Governor Gina Raimondo announced her nominees to fill six vacancies in Rhode Island’s courts on Monday, where she emphasized the need for diversity on the bench.

“We are seizing upon that opportunity to put the most qualified people that we can on the bench, [and] also making sure they are people deeply committed to Rhode Island, and that they look like the people who come before them on any given day in a courthouse,” she said.

Raimondo nominated Keith Cardoza and Susan Pepin Fay for Workers Compensation Court, Melissa Dubose and Christopher Knox Smith for District Court, Melissa Darigan for Superior Court, and Richard Merola for Family Court.

Raimondo’s picks will go before the Senate in January after the new General Assembly session begins.