ROCHESTER ATTORNEY FRANKLIN C. Jones has been confirmed as justice of the Rochester District Court. He was confirmed on March 14 by NH’s Executive Council and succeeds Judge Robert Carignan, who retired in July 2000.

Jones had served as special justice of the Rochester District Court since 1986, and has practiced law in Rochester since 1973 with the firm of Jones, Wensley, Wirth & Azarian. Since admission to the Bar, he has been engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on commercial transactions, business litigation, bankruptcy reorganizations, taxation and real estate transactions.

Jones said he looks forward to serving on the "people’s court."

"For many people, contact with the district court is the only contact they ever have with the judicial system," he said. "I believe it is very important that people feel they have been tried fairly by the system. This, more than the outcome of a particular case, often determines the respect with which the court system is held by the public. I appreciate having the opportunity to make a career change and serve in this capacity."

Jones said he hopes to continue to be involved in community activities, within the limits of his judicial position. "You have to understand the needs of the community so that your responses are appropriate to its needs," he said. Jones has been active in the Rochester area, having served as president of the Rochester School Board and on the boards of the Rochester Rotary Club and the local chapter of the American Red Cross. He is a founding member of the Rochester Domestic Violence Council. From 1997-99, Jones served as president of the New Hampshire District and Municipal Judges Association.

Born in Hanover, Jones is an honors graduate of both the University of New Hampshire and Boston University Law School.

Jones said his departure from private practice is "bittersweet."

"For the last 25-plus years I have had the privilege to practice law in my home state with hard working and intelligent attorneys, and diverse and always interesting clientele," said Jones. "Were I to have the opportunity to start my career again, I would have no hesitation in picking the practice of law. For me it has been a very satisfying and rewarding experience. There are few other jobs that can provide one with an opportunity to so directly affect the lives of others."

Jones said that he welcomes the challenge of serving as a full-time judge. "Now that my family is grown, I look forward to assuming the responsibilities that come with a full-time district court judgeship. It will provide me with an opportunity to use the skills and experience that I have developed as an attorney and part-time judge in a manner that will hopefully improve the delivery of judicial services and at the same time strengthen people’s confidence in the justice system," he said.

Jones praised Judge Carignan for selflessly contributing his time in his retirement by sitting as a judicial referee on civil cases while the Rochester District Court judgeship was vacant. Carignan heard cases at least twice a week since his retirement last summer, at no cost to the court system.

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