Rhode Island federal court selects a new magistrate judge

An assistant federal public defender will become the newest magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island following the retirement later this year of the first woman to hold the position.

The court on Tuesday announced the selection of Rebecca L. Aitchison to an eight-year term beginning in October. She will assume the seat of Patricia Sullivan, who is retiring on Oct. 2 after serving 14 years as a federal judicial officer.

Aitchison was one of 28 applicants for the $229,908-a-year position responsible for handling preliminary hearings and other pretrial matters in the federal court. The court’s announcement praised Aitchison’s “impressive breadth of legal talent, courtroom experience, and public service” — particularly her work representing indigent defendants in state and federal jurisdictions.

She spent seven years as a trial lawyer with the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office before joining the Federal Defender Office, according to the court’s announcement.

“Becky’s deep commitment to public service, combined with her distinguished experience as both a state and federal public defender, has prepared her exceptionally well for this role,” Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. said in a statement. “Her integrity, sound judgment, and dedication to ensuring equal justice under the law make her an outstanding addition to the bench for the District of Rhode Island and the community.”

The daughter of a Brazilian immigrant mother and an American father, Aitchison grew up in a multilingual household, speaking both Portuguese and English. She is also proficient in Spanish, the court’s announcement notes.

Aitchison received a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in 2008, where she was captain of the women’s basketball team. She received a law degree from the Roger Williams University School of Law in 2011, where she was managing editor of the law review and has worked as an adjunct professor since 2023, according to her LinkedIn.

Aitchison has served for three years on the executive committee of the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association and 10 years on the executive committee of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.