Reflecting upon her impending retirement, Copithorne says, “I will miss the emotional energy of the courtroom and the challenge of restructuring families.  The opportunity to work with and for people at such a difficult, painful and vulnerable time in their lives has been very gratifying.”

Copithorne, a 1962 graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, received her JD degree from Franklin Pierce Law School in 1979.  She began her legal career when she joined the NH Bar that same year and went into practice with her late husband David Copithorne in Laconia.  They practiced law together until she went on the bench as a marital master; David Copithorne died in 1999. 

A past president of the Belknap County Bar Association, Copithorne has served on the NH Bar Board of Governors and was also honored as Belknap County Pro Bono Attorney of the year in 1985.

Looking at her years as a judge, Copithorne says that perhaps the most difficult cases procedurally are those in which one party appears in court pro se, while the other has an attorney.  “When both are pro se, it’s easier, she said, “but it’s never really easy.  And I think custody cases are the most difficult.” 

When asked about the effectiveness of the new law regarding parenting plans, Copithorne said she felt it was too early to tell how effective it will be, since the law has been in effect only since last October.  “As important as my decision is in a case, it’s usually not as important to the well-being of the children, as the parties learning to work together as parents,” she said.

Copithorne has two sons of her own, both of whom live in the San Francisco Bay area—and one grandson.  “I do visit often and plan to continue doing so—but my home is in New Hampshire.”  However, she is willing to leave New Hampshire for some exciting adventures when the opportunity arises—and has already planned a five-day hike up the mountains of Peru to Machu Picchu with her older son and his wife in May.

After her years in family practice and nearly another 15 years as a marital master, what advice would Copithorne give to attorneys appearing before her?  “Remember as a family lawyer, you have a responsibility to the children.  Your client’s long term interests will generally be served by paying attention to this responsibility.”

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