R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-16-1: Composition — Appointment.

(a) There is hereby created a commission to be known as the commission on judicial tenure and discipline, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The commission shall consist of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, none of whom need be attorneys; three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the governor from a list of attorneys provided by the Rhode Island bar association with the advice and consent of the senate, that list of attorneys to include five (5) names for each member to be appointed by the governor; one attorney or public member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one attorney or public member who shall be appointed by the house minority leader, one attorney or public member to be appointed by the president of the senate; and one attorney or public member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; six (6) members of the judiciary appointed by the supreme court, one each from the superior, family, district, workers’ compensation courts, traffic tribunal and one at large member from any of the aforementioned courts shall be chairperson.

(b) No member of the commission, except the appointed members of the judiciary, shall, while serving as a member thereof, hold any public office, or be in the employ of the state of Rhode Island.

(c) The chairperson of the commission shall direct the performance of such administrative duties as may be required for the effective discharge of the obligations herein made incumbent upon the commission.