Two top RI District Court administrators resign for 'internal' reasons

PROVIDENCE – The state District Court is in upheaval following the recent resignations of two of its top administrators for unclear reasons.

District Court Administrative Clerk Stephen Waluk resigned on Dec. 2 for reasons that "will remain an internal personnel matter," courts spokeswoman Lexi Kriss said in an email.

Waluk was hired by District Court Chief Judge Jeanne E. LaFazia as chief clerk of the court in 2012 and was promoted to court administrator in 2015. He had previously served as a research and policy analyst in the House minority office from 2000 to 2012, according to his LinkedIn page. He was mayor of Newport from January 2007 to July 2012.

His ending total salary was $174,143, including longevity earned from previous state service, according to the courts.

Waluk did not respond to email and phone inquiries.

District Court Deputy Clerk Nicholas Cote resigned Monday, Nov. 28, also for reasons that "will remain an internal personnel matter," Kriss said. Cote was hired by the court in 2001. His salary upon resignation was $69,763.

Cote referred questions to his lawyer, Christopher Gontarz, who declined comment Wednesday.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Two top RI District Court administrators resign for `internal' reasons