Haiganush R. Bedrosian, Chief Judge of the RI Family Court has announced plans to retire Jan. 8.

In 2010, Bedrosian, became the first woman to lead the Family Court  which handles divorces and child custody issues.  She was the first woman to serve on the court bench after being nominated by Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy in 1980. 
Bedrosian initiated broadening the mediation program in Domestic and DCYF matters and expanding the family treatment drug court. During her tenure, the court rules and the forms used to guide the filing process underwent major revision.  

Judge Bedrosian was keynote Speaker at RI Mediators Association's first "CELEBRATE MEDIATION-RI"* Event held in May, 2011, where she said "there must be a shift away from promoting an adversarial system which pits family members against one another".  She has been a long time supporter of mediation and a friend and supporter of RI Mediators Association.  

Before taking the bench, Bedrosian worked in private practice specializing in family law after stints as assistant general counsel to the Providence & Worcester Railroad Co. and as a prosecutor in the early 1970s.  She earned her law degree from Suffolk University Law School.  

In December 2013, Bedrosian hosted a two-day conference on sex trafficking and exploitation of children in the child-welfare system that was attended by 400 members of law enforcement, child-welfare workers, clinicians and investigators from across Rhode Island.

For more info on Judge Bedrosian see: 

* Bedrosion Comments at "CELEBRATE MEDIATION RI–2011"

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150922/NEWS/150929796