From the State House to the Court House

After ten years in sales in the automotive industry, Brandon Potter ‘25 decided it was time for a change. Wanting to make an impact on his local community, the Cranston native decided to run for State Representative for the people of District 16. First elected in 2020, Potter is now in his third term representing the Garden City, Eden Park, and Stadium neighborhoods in his hometown.

“There was a lot that happened in a pretty short period of time that led to me to decide to run for office,” says Potter. 

“But the short answer is that I believe when you have the opportunity to change something for the better, you either do it or you shouldn’t complain. When we don’t agree with what we see our elected officials doing, at all levels, we have the privilege in our system to stand up and take action. And I think that privilege is a civic responsibility.”

Currently, Potter serves as Second Vice Chair on the House Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of both the House Corporations Committee and the House Labor Committee. 

In a typical week when the House is in session, Potter attends floor sessions, committee hearings, presents proposed legislation he’s sponsored before committees, and meets with advocates and stakeholders about current legislation. He also added that he receives many emails and phone calls from his constituents. Potter says that he tries to make it a point to respond to everyone and stay in contact with the people he represents.

When he’s not at the State House and it’s campaign season, Potter says he is out there walking the neighborhoods of his district, knocking on doors, and having meaningful conversations with the people that he says he is privileged to represent.

“(I most enjoy) being able to channel the issues and stories I hear from real people into action,” says Potter. “I love campaign season because I get to talk with people all throughout my district about what’s going on in their lives, and what they think the state government could be doing differently to make their lives better.

“Unfortunately, I’ve heard a lot of hard stories along the way. I take it as a serious responsibility to bring those stories with me to the State House, find where they apply in public policy, and do all I can to make reform happen in a way that makes those stories better in the future.”

It was during his time as a representative that Potter made the decision to go to law school, noting that he sees practicing law as “a means to have that same positive effect on people, but on a more personal and direct level.” After graduating, he wants his practice to involve a heavy amount of litigation. Potter says he is especially interested in catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, and products liability litigation.

“I have a passion for helping vulnerable people, and my plan is to put that passion into a practice of advocacy,” he says.

According to Potter, the Criminal Defense Clinic with Andy Horwitz was one of his most influential experiences. He highlighted Professor Horwitz’s effective way of teaching client-centered advocacy, adding that he was fortunate to be able to put that into real

practice as a Rule 9 Student Attorney. Potter says that the clinic emphasized how to really counsel clients, be thorough, and respond based on the client’s individual and often particular needs—something he plans to carry into his own future practice.

“I was thrilled to have a real trial and help my client win a not guilty verdict,” says Potter. “I didn’t come to law school aspiring to be a criminal defense attorney, but at both the clinic and as a pro bono intern at the RI Public Defender, I’ve found that work to be meaningful, and I hope I’m able to include it at least to some degree in my future practice.”