Superior Court Struggles with Shortage of Judges, Staff

By Elaine Grant on Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

The Executive Council has confirmed Judge Carol Ann Conboy’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s gain worsens the Superior Court’s shortage of judges.

NHPR's Elaine Grant has more.

Judge Carol Ann Conboy’s elevation to the Supreme Court brings to four the number of vacant judgeships in the Superior Court.

That leaves only 18 judges scrambling to cover trials all over the state.

And the National Center for State Courts recently issued a report stating that, to properly handle its caseload, New Hampshire’s Superior Court needs 26 judges.

As concerned as he is about that shortage, Superior Court Chief Justice Robert Lynn says the 60 or so staff vacancies are an even greater cause for concern.

“Cases don’t get processed as quickly as they should, hearings don’t get scheduled as quickly as we’d like to see them scheduled because there aren’t enough people doing the work that should be done.”

Neither the House nor the Senate versions of the budget would allow the judiciary to fill all of its vacancies.

For NHPR News, I’m EG.