The Hon. Robert E. Craven is a judge for the Charlestown Probate Court in Washington County, Rhode Island.
In addition to his service on the bench, Craven is the proprietor and lead trial attorney for Robert E. Craven & Associates, a law firm he established in 1994. He handles personal injury, criminal defense, DUI defense, and medical malpractice cases. Craven also specializes in tax law, probate and estate planning, state administrative appeals, land use and zoning, product liability, and contract law.
Craven has supplemented his practice with service as the Solicitor for the Town of Foster (1998 to 2004), the Assistant Solicitor for East Providence (2008 to 2019), the Solicitor for the Town of Charlestown (2007 to present), and the Solicitor for the Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District (2021 to present).
Craven earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1978. He then completed a J.D. at New England Law in 1983.
After graduating from law school, Craven began his legal career as an assistant attorney general for the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office (1983 to 1992). During his tenure there, he was named Chief of the Public Corruption Unit.
He is admitted to practice in Rhode Island, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
His memberships have included the Rhode Island Bar Association. He has also been involved with the free legal clinics sponsored by the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless and the Rhode Island Volunteer Lawyers Program.
A member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Craven has represented the residents of North Kingstown’s District 32 since 2013. In this capacity, he has held assignments on the House Judiciary Committee; the House Innovation, Internet and Technology Committee; and the House Municipal Government Committee. Over the course of his political career, he has sponsored legislation to allow criminal charges to be brought when an individual is raped by their spouse while the victim is incapacitated as well as legislation that makes the failure to pay employees’ wages a felony punishable by imprisonment.
Raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Craven attended La Salle Academy. He has served on the Town Council of North Kingstown (1994 to 1996), where he led the battle to develop the Quonset Industrial Park. Craven currently resides in Saunderstown with his wife, Susan. When not presiding over legal matters, Craven enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his family.
He is registered as a Democrat.