PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Mayor David N. Cicilline has appointed Jorge O. Elorza to the city Housing Court, replacing Angel Taveras, who recently resigned to run for mayor.

Elorza, a Roger Williams University Law School professor and Silver Lake resident, will join a three-member Housing Court responsible for hearing and determining all actions concerning violations of housing laws, building codes and zoning ordinances.

"Jorge's extraordinary legal skills and his deep understanding of the challenges facing those in need make him uniquely qualified to adjudicate cases that impact the quality of life for families in our neighborhoods," Cicilline said in a statement.

Elorza teaches courses on Property, Housing Law and Policy, and advanced Constitutional Law at Roger Williams. He previously worked as a staff attorney at Rhode Island Legal Services, representing private and public housing tenants.

He is a 2003 graduate of Harvard Law School and an alumnus of the University of Rhode Island.