AFTER NEARLY 22 years serving as clerk of Cheshire County Superior Court, Stillman ("Tim") D. Rogers recently announced his retirement, effective May 17, 2001.

Rogers graduated from Harvard University and received his law degree from American University Washington College of Law in 1968. The same year he was admitted to the NH Bar and became an associate with the Keene law firm Faulkner, Plaut, Hannah & Zimmerman, where he worked until 1975. He was associated with Lewis A. McMahon and Arthur Olson Jr. in another Keene law firm until August 1978, when he was appointed as the successor to former Cheshire County Superior Court Clerk Charles Connors, who had been appointed a Superior Court justice.

Looking back on his many years as court clerk, Rogers said that it has been "one of the most challenging jobs anyone could have" to try to meet the needs of all involved in the court system. "It’s a question of balancing the needs of the Bar and the public on one hand, and of the judges and the court on the other," said Rogers.

"There’s also an ongoing tension between the Bar, the judges and the administrative part of the court, who all have their own interests. It’s immensely difficult to balance the needs of everyone," he said.

One of his most poignant memories as court clerk is from early in his tenure: a first-degree murder trial that resulted in a sentence of life without parole. Rogers recalls that the court took the verdict at 11:30 p.m. and that he reminded Judge Louis Wyman that he had "no alternative" but to sentence the accused to life without parole.

Other memorable moments from his tenure, Rogers said, are too many to recall.

Rogers said that the Superior Courts are "immensely different" than when he first took on the role of court clerk. Twenty-two years ago, he said, there was a "more laissez-faire" approach to court management. "The clerks used to manage things as they saw fit," said Rogers.

"There was much less emphasis on case management from the court’s point of view. The Bar basically dictated the speed of cases," he said.

Back then, court clerks also sat as masters frequently—Rogers said that he sat as a master on about 2,000 divorce cases until the practice was discontinued in the mid-80s.

Rogers has also witnessed the implementation of modern case management systems throughout the years and three major technology changes, all of which eliminated backlog in the Superior Courts. "I didn’t even have my own copy machine when I started here and we were using electric, or even manual, typewriters, obviously with no memory capability. The changes over the years have been enormous, both in court operations and the equipment we use to do them," said Rogers.

Rogers has worked with dozens of judges over the years, including Superior Court Justice Philip Hollman, who worked with Rogers for about six years. Hollman, who now sits at Hillsborough County Superior Court-South in Manchester, described Rogers as "very competent, very much on top of things and very congenial."

"He served the court extremely well. He was very sensitive to the needs of the public that the court was serving, very loyal and devoted to the court and its purpose," said Hollman. "There should be many more like him," he said.

Rogers said that in retirement, he will miss the daily interaction with the court staff and members of the Bar. But he decided it was time to "go play"—he plans to dedicate more time to traveling and to a travel writing career that he has dabbled at over the years. He and his wife are both published freelance travel writers.

On March 19, Rogers was formally presented a legislative commendation from the House of Representatives in recognition of his 22 years of "exemplary and dedicated service" as clerk of Cheshire County Superior Court. A reception in his honor was also held on March 31. In addition to his long career as clerk of court, Rogers has also served on the NHBA Board of Governors as a county governor and is one of the founders of the Lawyers Assistance Committee, which provides free and confidential assistance for lawyers with substance abuse and/or mental health issues.

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