Bar News - June 17, 2011
New Circuit Court Begins Operations July 1
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The Judge is OUT
| Now sitting: |
Vacant positions: |
| 17 Superior Court judges |
5 vacancies |
| 12 Family Division masters |
3 ½ vacancies |
| 28 District and Probate judges* |
4 vacancies** | *Not counting retirements of Judges Lawrence and Korbey
**Appointments will be made to Circuit Court
Note: 9 of the fulltime vacancies have been unfilled for a year or more. A number of part-time judgeships are vacant.
Shrinking non-judicial staff
100+ positions were vacant at the start of the past year.
On June 2, 33 layoffs and 28 retirements reduced overall staffing to 478 non-judicial employees. | A new era for the Judicial Branch begins July 1, 2011, when the District and Probate Courts and the Family Division are merged into one.
Starting on page 27, the Judicial Branch answers basic "who, what, and where" questions for the NH Circuit Courts, which will operate under a under a new management structure designed to provide more efficient, and cost effective service.
On page 4, NH Supreme Court Chief Justice Linda Stewart Dalianis answers the "why" question in the testimony she presented at the ABA Task Force on the Preservation of the Justice System last month.
Dalianis’s testimony also lays out the details of the court’s other responses to the budget challenges this year.
Watch the e-Bulletin and website for more information and scheduling of a webcast to answer your questions about the Circuit Court.
Judicial Confirmation Soon?
At press time, Gov. Lynch nominated N. William Delker, senior assistant attorney general, as a superior court judge.
If confirmed, Delker would fill one of five vacancies on that court. However, due to economic pressures, it is unlikely the governor will fill any of the other longstanding vacancies on the courts.
Vacancies also are being created by the recent retirements of District Court Judges Paul Lawrence (Goffstown) and John Korbey (Salem). Upcoming issues of Bar News will examine the status of state courts. An interview with new Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau has been scheduled.
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