Rhode Island General Laws Title 9. Courts and Civil Procedure--Procedure Generally § 9-8-4. Dismissal on motion of court--Notice--Hearing

Actions at law, and such other proceedings as the court may order, which have been pending more than ten (10) years on July 10, 1982, may be dismissed for lack of prosecution by the court on its own motion, as directed by the chief justice of the supreme court as to that court, by the presiding justice of the superior court as to that court, and by the respective chief judges of the district and family courts as to those courts. Notice that the dockets are thus to be cleared of inactive cases and the time and place of hearing upon the court's motion shall be given by the clerk of the court in a public newspaper circulated in the county or district in which the actions are pending by two (2) publications at least one month before the date of hearing. Any attorney, or party not represented by an attorney, may appear at the time of the hearing to be heard on any such dismissals and the court in its discretion may dismiss the case or stay its dismissal for a period to be fixed by the court, and such period may also be extended.