The courtroom calls Mulvaney

Katie Mulvaney does it all.

She started at The Providence Journal in 2000 as a copy editor and has since covered a little bit of everything. You’ve probably seen her byline on her hard-hitting court coverage. Plus she’s a foster-to-adopt mom. Plus she’s getting her master's degree in law. Whew. Here’s a little more about her and what drives her to dive deep into the area’s biggest crime stories.

Why did you become a journalist?

“I’ve always felt there was a public-service component to being a reporter that makes it a pleasure to go to work and feel like you’re working for the people, to some degree, and can affect change. Even when times get hard, I like my job. Thankfully.”

What are some stories you’ve done that have stuck with you?

“I’ve covered a lot of court stuff, and I’ve covered a lot of really hard trials. That has changed me, you know, because you have to bear witness to people’s emotions and the hardest moment of their life.

"And the stories in which I’ve exposed things that needed to change, like the fact that there was no video-voyeurism law and these young women were being videotaped by a landlord or a roommate. I did stories about that, and the legislature enacted change. I’ve done stories about uniform parentage here, and it feels like the legislature is moving closer to that. Giving a voice to the LGBTQ community was really, really important to me.”

Can you talk a little bit about what it’s like covering courts?

“I love courts because it combines the emotional and legal framework. I’m getting my master’s in law at the Roger Williams University School of Law, so that has really informed my knowledge on the legal side of things. [She just finished a 25-page paper the other week, on top of working, and has only a few weeks off until fall semester.] You really bear witness to people in the hardest moments of their life.”

It’s usually not their best day when they’re in court.

“No, it’s usually their very worst day for both sides, the victim and the defendants. When I’m covering an intense trial, when you watch testimony day in and day out, I end up living it, just like the jurors. I try not to talk to the defense or the prosecutors, to maintain my objectivity. But that’s kind of a lonely place to be. And sometimes it’s hard to shake it off when you get home.

"So far, I’m 100% at being able to pick the verdict. The capitol police always ask me how it’s going to go, and I’ve always been right."

What would you want people to know about you?

“I take my job really seriously — being objective and ethical and operating with absolute integrity is extremely important to me.

"I’m a foster-to-adopt mom, and so I encourage people to foster. It’s really an awesome experience. You’ll learn an awful lot about yourself, and it’s not easy, but it’s rewarding.”

To report a tip to The Journal’s Watchdog Team, call (401) 277-7777, or email watchdog@providencejournal.com

.