R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-10-42.1

Any justice of the family court who shall resign in accordance with the provisions of § 8-3-9 may, at his or her own consent and on request of the chief judge of the court, be assigned to perform service as an associate justice thereof. When so assigned and performing such service, he or she shall have all the powers and authority of an associate justice of the family court, but otherwise he or she shall have no such powers nor be authorized to perform any judicial duties. Such a retired justice shall not be counted in the number of judges provided by law for the family court.