Former RI Attorney General Arlene Violet Joins GoLocal

Former RI Attorney General Arlene Violet Joins GoLocal

 

Arlene Violet made national news when she was elected the first female state Attorney General in America.

It was one of her many firsts. The former Sister of Mercy nun has been an innovator and a conscience of Rhode Island for years.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Now, she joins GoLocal as a weekly columnist.

Beyond her career as a lawyer, Violet has been a top-rated talk radio host, an author, and a playwright over the years.

 

The New York Times wrote shortly after Violet took office in 1985:

When people in Rhode Island call their state's Attorney General simply ''the General,'' the term seems tailor made for Arlene Violet. A former nun who in November became the first woman to be elected Attorney General in the United States, she has taken on her new job with the zeal of a field marshal.

She has been in office only since Jan. 1, but she has already made headlines with her decision to retry Claus von Bulow on charges that he attempted to murder his wife, a wealthy Manhattan socialite. In addition, Miss Violet has taken steps to bring to trial long-pending cases involving accusations of political corruption, and she has been meeting with Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to develop a coordinated strategy for dealing with the heavy concentration of organized crime and drug traffic in the state.

''I think it is important to set the tone when you are in office, and that is what I am attempting to do,'' said Miss Violet, who is 41 years old. During the years she was an energetic public interest lawyer before her election, she said, she was known as ''Attila the Nun.''

 

Another Great Addition to GoLocal

“When GoLocal unveiled the St. Joseph pension fund collapse, there was Arlene representing pro bono a group of the oldest and poorest compensated retirees. She was relentless in working to ensure those retirees were protected, and ultimately they were,” said Josh Fenton, CEO and co-founder of Golocal.

“Arlene has dedicated her life to fighting for justice. She is a wonderful addition to GoLocal," said Kate Nagle, GoLocal News Editor.

“GoLocalProv has done important investigative stories and a broad spectrum of news,” said Violet. “I am delighted to write a column for such a valuable contributor of information to our citizens.”