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Bar News - December 17, 2004 Four of Benson's District Court Appointments Confirmed FOUR OF Gov. Craig Benson’s post-election judicial appointments have been confirmed by the Executive Council, although a vacancy still exists in one of the state’s busiest courts as a result of an unsuccessful nomination. Confirmed at the Dec. 1 meeting of the Executive Council were:  Gerard Boyle, of Plymouth, who will preside in Concord District Court, replacing the retiring Arthur Robbins (see accompanying article.) Boyle, 55, served for more than 20 years on active and reserve status in the US Marine Corps, including duty as a military legal officer. He resigned his position as chair of the NH Commission on the Status of Men while he was considered for the judgeship. His practice in Plymouth has included criminal defense and general practice. Boyle was also the recipient in 1999 of the Bar’s Vickie M. Bunnell Award for Community Service.  John Coughlin, of Mont Vernon, was appointed presiding justice of the Derry District Court, replacing Judge Lawrence Warhall (see Nov. 5 issue of Bar News.) Coughlin, an Army reservist who attended his public hearing on his nomination while on leave from duty as a judge advocate general in Iraq, served as Hillsborough County Attorney for less than a year when he was activated. He maintained a solo general practice, with an emphasis on criminal defense, in Mont Vernon, and is a Nashua-area native. After his nomination (and swearing-in) to the Derry post, Gov. Benson nominated Coughlin to fill the Nashua District Court presiding justice post, which has been vacant for a year. However, Coughlin last week announced that he intended to retain the Derry position. Benson’s original nomination for the Nashua District Court position, Milford attorney Marc Coro, was withdrawn after it was criticized by a number of speakers at the Executive Council public hearing. Clifford Kinghorn, currently a justice in the Merrimack District Court, had earlier been proposed for the Nashua post, but the Council has never officially considered it.  Stephen Morrison, 56, of Dover, was confirmed as presiding justice of the Dover District Court, replacing Judge Robert Cullinane. (See article in Nov. 19 issue of Bar News.) Morrison has been a part-time associate justice of the Dover court since 1986. He has been in practice with the law firm of Gregoire, Calivas, Morrison & Indorf, and previously served as a prosecutor in Strafford County Attorney and as Dover City Attorney. He was admitted to the Bar in 1973 and is a native of Dover.  Robert Stephen, 38, of Manchester, as associate justice of the Derry District Court. He currently works as director of human resources for a Manchester data processing firm and is the brother of Health & Human Services Commissioner John Stephen. Stephen graduated at the top of his class from Suffolk Law School in 1993 and worked for several law firms before taking the corporate job in 1997. Another nomination made in mid-November, that of Stanley Mullaney as justice in the Dover District Court was not acted upon. That position in the Dover court was slated for a phase-out when the current office-holder, Judge Morrison, vacated it. Concord District Court Judge Arthur Robbins Retires Judge Arthur Robbins, presiding justice of the Concord District Court—one of the state’s busiest, will retire in January, 2005. A graduate of Suffolk University and an NHBA member since 1976, Robbins has served the profession in various capacities, and has volunteered for several Bar programs including the Mock Trial and ALIES programs. His wisdom and his calm approach on the bench have always been much appreciated, those close to him said. Robbins, "a very private man," declined to make any comments about his career or his upcoming retirement. Quentin Blaine, the current Concord District Court Clerk, said that it has been a wonderful privilege to work with the judge. "He considers his job a ‘boots on the ground’ activity and his focus every day is to resolve the dozens of cases that are presented to him," Blaine said. "He does so creatively and with little fanfare." Judge Robbins has spent 25 years on the bench and he is considered something of a legend, with a broad knowledge of the law and its application. He still does extensive research, always keeping in mind the impact his decisions will have on the lives of those who appear before him. As the presiding justice, Robbins had chambers on the second floor of the courthouse, but he also maintains a desk in the clerk’s office. He makes himself available to his staff, supporting and encouraging each one personally and professionally. Although Robbins has not mentioned any specific plans for his retirement years, Blaine said, "After Jan. 3, the chances for meeting up with Judge Robbins will be far greater on a hiking trail or in a canoe on a lake than in a courthouse."
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