Key House Committee Approves Suttell

A key House committee has voted unanimously to approve the nomination of state Supreme Court Justice Paul A. Suttell to the post of chief justice.

The 13-0 vote is no great surprise. Gov. Carcieri's nomination of the well-liked judge has engendered little opposition from the Democratic legislature, in a welcome break from the partisanship that has roiled Smith Hill for the better part of the last six years.

The full General Assembly is expected to take up the nomination as early as tomorrow.