Projo Politics Blog

The Justinian Law Society of Rhode Island, the local affiliate of the national Italian-American Bar Association, has given its annual Distinguished Public Service Award to Pasco “Pat” Picano Jr., administrative clerk of the state Superior Court for Providence and Bristol counties.

Picano, 77, of Cranston, has worked in state government for 39 years, including 36 years in the court system.

“For many, many, many years, Pat has helped both young lawyers and seasoned lawyers navigate the technical system over at the Superior Court, helping them with rules and finding cases,” said lawyer Richard C. Tallo, president of the Justinian Law Society of Rhode Island.

“He has just been a font of information — he’ll tell you about extradition to The Hague,” Tallo said. “He never, never turns a lawyer away. Many judges have come to rely on him, too, because of his longevity, dedication and knowledge of the law and of the rules.”

The Justinian Society honored Picano during a March 14 “Meet the Clerks” seminar that also included Henry S. Kinch Jr., the Superior Court clerk for Providence and Bristol counties, and deputy clerk Jeanne Rinaldi. Tallo said the event came just before St. Joseph’s Day and, like everything else last week, included zeppoles.

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