Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-6 (2026)

Discretionary with court to render judgment

✓ current as of July 2026

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The court may refuse to render or enter a declaratory judgment or decree where the judgment or decree, if rendered or entered, would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases, 1962–2017 · leading case: Sam M. Ex Rel. Elliott v. Chafee, 800 F. Supp. 2d 363 (D.R.I. 2011).

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Sam M. Ex Rel. Elliott v. Chafee, 800 F. Supp. 2d 363 (D.R.I. 2011). · cites it 2× “See R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-30-6 (“The court may refuse to render or enter a declaratory judgment or decree where the judgment or decree, if rendered or entered, would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.”

Woonsocket Teachers' Guild Local Union 951 v. Woonsocket Sch. Comm., 694 A.2d 727 (R.I. 1997). · cites it 2× “A decision to grant a remedy under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act is purely discretionary, see G.L.1956 § 9-30-6, and “ ‘should not be disturbed unless it clearly appears that such discretion has been improperly exercised or that there has been an abuse thereof.”

Bellevue-Ochre Point Neighborhood Ass'n v. Pres. Soc'y of Newport Cnty., 151 A.3d 1223 (R.I. 2017). “The society moved to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), (6), and § 9-30-6. In support of its motion, the society argued that “BOPNA’s complaint fail[ed] to present a ripe, justiciable claim properly cognizable under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act.”

Thompson v. Town Council of Town of Westerly, 487 A.2d 498 (R.I. 1985). · cites it 2× “Any other result would defeat “one of the essential purposes of the [Djeclaratory [Jjudgments [A]ct which as stated in G.L. 1956, § 9-30-6, is to ‘terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.”

Fireman's Fund Ins. v. E.W. Burman, Inc., 391 A.2d 99 (R.I. 1978). “” In §9-30-6 of the Act the courts are given a broad discretion to deny declaratory relief where it would not have the effect of terminating a controversy or relieving an uncertainty that gave rise to the proceeding.”

Langton v. Demers, 423 A.2d 1149 (R.I. 1980). · cites it 2× “Any declaratory judgment, therefore, would have no binding effect on the sheriff who made the original attachment fourteen years ago. Under these circumstances plaintiff is foreclosed from seeking declaratory relief.”

Charles Burns v. Moorland Farm Condo. Ass'n, 86 A.3d 354 (R.I. 2014). “See § 9-30-6 (“The court may refuse to render or enter a declaratory judgment or decree where the judgment or decree, if rendered or entered, would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.”

Theroux v. Bay Assocs., Inc., 339 A.2d 266 (R.I. 1975). “” In §9-30-6 of the Act the courts are given a broad discretion to deny declaratory relief where it would not have the effect of terminating a controversy or relieving an uncertainty that gave rise to the proceeding.”

In Re City of Warwick, 197 A.2d 287 (R.I. 1964). “1956, §9-30-6, is to “terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.”

Redmond v. Rhode Island Hosp. Trust Nat'l Bank, 386 A.2d 1090 (R.I. 1978). · cites it 2× “Under the provision of §9-30-6, a trial justice may, in the exercise of sound judicial discretion, refuse to enter a judgment “where such judgment or decree, if rendered or entered, would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.”

Gray v. Leeman, 182 A.2d 119 (R.I. 1962). “It is provided in §9-30-6, that “The court may refuse to render or enter a declaratory judgment or decree where such judgment or decree, if [rendered] or entered, would not terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding.”

Berberian v. Leonard, 207 A.2d 294 (R.I. 1965). · cites it 2× “He therefore refused to enter a declaratory decree, pointing out in his decision that his refusal was in the exercise of his discretion pursuant to §9-30-6 which reads as follows: “The court may refuse to render or enter a declaratory judgment or decree where such judgment or…”

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