Judge Melissa R. DuBose

On January 3, 2025, Judge DuBose made history by assuming her seat as the first Black District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Before her federal appointment, she had a distinguished career as an Associate Judge on the Rhode Island State District Court, where she handled both criminal and civil cases in Providence County.

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Judge DuBose is deeply involved in her community and the legal field. She serves on the Board of Directors for Roger Williams University School of Law and chairs its Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in Rhode Island Courts. In 2021, she was appointed to the Rhode Island Foundation Board.

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Her legal career prior to the bench includes a role as senior legal counsel at Schneider Electric, specializing in corporate compliance, ethics, and fair trade. A lifelong Rhode Islander, Judge DuBose earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Providence College. She also taught history for over a decade at Providence Public Schools while earning her Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law. After earning her law degree, she was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General, where she worked in the criminal division.

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Judge DuBose's achievements represent a significant contribution to both the legal community and her home state of Rhode Island.