The Belknap County Superior Court building will continue to be the site where marital cases are heard.

Family Division Administrator Gina Apicelli said the meetings were designed to better prepare the stake-holders in those areas for the changes. In addition to attorneys, members of law enforcement, mediators and guardians ad litem were invited to the meetings. There was also a presentation made on coping with change. Apicelli said snags or problems are inevitable, and she wanted to both acknowledge that and provide help to those who will be dealing with the courts. Apicelli said that while the Family Division has learned some lessons from its initial rollout experience in Sullivan County, some difficulties can’t be avoided.

“While we think that on opening day, things will go smoothly,” Apicelli said, “we also are trying to establish realistic expectations, and anticipate the questions people will be asking.” 

She said the clerks for all of the courts in the implementation counties will also be paying special attention to avoiding scheduling conflicts for practitioners whenever possible, which will require more coordination between the clerks of the different courts and, in appropriate situations, greater reliance on telephonic hearings.

The Family Division in Carroll County will operate in Ossipee, Marital Master Ann Barber presiding, and Conway, Judge Pamela Albee presiding. Judge Albee will also continue to preside over the Carroll County North District Court and will cover juvenile cases in Ossipee.  (Masters cannot hear those matters.)

Master Barber will also hear cases in Coos, with District Court Judge James Michalik covering juvenile matters. Because of the distances involved, the Family Division in Coos will convene in the former Berlin District Courthouse, Colebrook and Lancaster.

The Family Division will have only one location in Belknap County at the Superior Court building. Master Michael Garner will handle the bulk of the cases, with cases also heard by judges Willard Martin and Lucinda Sadler.  (See order on page 27.)

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