|
|
 SUN/MON PROMO |
Web Promo |
| Hello/Intro |
Key: Community Politics/Government |
| Conversation |
Key: Economy |
| Thanks/Goodbye |
|
|
| SUN/MON PROMO |
Web Promo |
| Hello/Intro |
Key: Community Politics/Government |
| Conversation |
Key: Economy |
| Thanks/Goodbye |
| SUN/MON PROMO Return to index of stories... |
PROMO Court soundup: Rochester Court Big changes coming to New Hampshire courts - and what they mean. |
| Hello/Intro Return to index of stories... |
Hello, I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. On July 1st, most of the courts in New Hampshire are undergoing the biggest reorganization in decades. The changes are mainly behind the scenes, and are intended to streamline operations, but some fear they are coming too quickly, and could further imperil a justice system already grappling with delays and funding issues. TAKE PKGE JOINING ME AT WHAT WILL SOON BE THE CONCORD CIRCUIT COURT ARE: Linda Dalianis, Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court, Ed Kelly, Administrative Justice for the NH Circuit Court, and Jennifer Parent, President of the NH Bar Association. Should say - brand-new President of the NH Bar Association. |
| Conversation Return to index of stories... |
Welcome all. To review. 1: In January, The Judicial Branch Innovation Commission proposed its big idea: Combine the District and Probate Courts and the Family Division into a new "Circuit Court". It would streamline operations and save an estimate $37 million over 10 years. Legislature says great - but do it in 7 weeks. What complications has that accelerated schedule created? 2: Judge Kelly, you keep getting more and more courts to watch over. How are you going to go about making sure that when a judge with 25 years of district court experience has to handle a probate case - he or she is going to have the in-depth knowledge necessary? Some of that stuff is pretty arcane - even for law. JUDGE DAVID KING TALKED ABOUT WELL YOU HAD A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE RECENTLY IN LANCASTER - HE WAS IN PROBATE COURT - DISTRICT COURT CLERK TOLD HIM A PERSON IN CUSTODY NEEDED TO BE ARRAIGNED - SO ACROSS THE HALL HE GOES - SAME ROBES - DIFFERENT COURT ROOM - DONE IN 10 MINUTES - INSTEAD OF WAITING AROUND - TYING UP MULITPLE RESOURCES 3: WOULDN'T THE TRAINING TAKE JUDGES - ALREADY IN SHORT SUPPLY - OUT OF COMMISSION? 4: JENNIFER - MOST OF YOUR PRACTICE IS IN SUPERIOR COURT - THE 5% OF THE STATE'S COURTS THAT ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS REFORM. BUT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR FELLOW ATTORNEYS? EFFICIENCY IN THE COURTS IS GOOD - ALSO ENCOURAGED BY THE E-FILING - AT LEAST MONIES HAVE BEEN PUT TOWARD IT. BAR MEMBERS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT CROSS TRAINING - MAKE SURE JUDGES ARE FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH JENNIFER - WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU EXPECT ATTORNEYS TO ADOPT - FILE MORE MEMORANDUMS JUST TO ENSURE THE JUDGES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PAST RULINGS OF THE COURT RELATING TO THEIR CASE? 5: Along with the savings, you stressed the need for the full 10 year phase-in. The legislature only took you up on the first recommendation. Any regrets about mentioning the second? You planned to reduce mid-level management in a decade - instead had massive layoffs - 73 people - hundreds of years of experience all at once. EFFECTS? 6: JENNIFER - YOU SAID THIS SHOULDN'T BE BIG CHANGE - FOR ATTORNEYS FILING IN SAME JURISDICTION , JUDGES AND MASTERS CONTINUE ON SAME CASES THEY ARE SITTING ON. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? I'VE HEARD THAT ATTORNEYS PRACTICING FAMILY LAW ARE THE MOST NERVOUS ABOUT THE CHANGES. 7: JUSTICE DALIANIS. PART OF YOUR OVERALL PLAN WAS TO UNIFY THE HILLSBOROUGH SUPERIOR COURT WHICH CURRENTLY HEARS CASES IN NASHUA AND MANCHESTER - AND MOVE THEM ALL TO MANCHESTER. THAT SET OFF A POLITICAL FIRESTORM IN NASHUA WHICH STILL ISN'T OUT. ARE YOU GOING TO REVISIT THAT? YOU SAID "not all the lawyers are happy about this." THAT'S PUTTING IT MILDLY. DO YOU THINK THE MERGER PLAN WOULD MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE BUILDINGS AND PERSONEL? DO YOU SENSE A CHIP ON NASHUA'S SHOULDER? 8: JUSTICE DALIANIS - YOU SPOKE AT THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION TASK FORCE HEARING IN CONCORD IN MAY - YOU SAID YOU HAD: CLOSED COURTHOUSES, FURLOUGED EMPLOYEES, CUT JURY TRIALS, CUT COURT HOURS, AND IT WASN'T ENOUGH. YOU SAID YOU HAD TO CHANGE. Another innovation - Video-conferencing capabilities will be expanded to cut costs of transporting prisoners to courthouses for arraignments and other hearings. Every court location, every county jail, the state prison and the offices of the public defender will be connected. 9: ALSO WANT TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE CALL CENTER TO TAKE LOAD OFF COURT STAFF FROM ANSWERING PHONES WITH BASIC QUESTIONS. HIRE 20 PART-TIME "CASE PROCESSORS" TO CLEAR BACKLOG. 10: That Innovation Commission also proposed an IT plan to bring the court into the 21st century. E-filing, digitized records, easier access. Justice Broderick used to talk about taking a tour of the federal court - and feeling like the country cousin visiting the big city. What are the prospects? 11: NO MORE MARITAL MASTERS. WHERE DO THEY GO? MAY BE SOME INITIAL CONFUSION LOSS OF PERSONNEL - CALL A COURT ANYTIME YOU HEAR CHANGE -THERE IS APREHENSION - MORE HURRIED THAN EXPECTED MORE CERTIFICATION WILL HELP PROBATE HAS GOT TO BE ARCANE - NOT IN A PEJORATIVE SENSE MAY BE PRACTIONERS HAVE TO FILE ARE THESE REALISTIC What the legislature giveth, the legislature taketh away. I'm talking about NH Legal Assistance - Legal Aid. Their funding will be nearly cut in half for the next two years - $700,000 for each year. This - essentially - is how poor people get access to the law. What effect are you expecting? More pro se - self-represented people in court? BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE NEXT YEAR? THAT IS THE LAST WORD - FOR NOW. JUSTICE DALIANIS, JUDGE KELLY, JENNIFER PARENT- THANK. I'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH MY FINAL WORD. |
| Thanks/Goodbye Return to index of stories... |
That's all the time we have today on this NH Outlook. I'm Richard Ager, I'll see you next time. |
| Web Promo Return to index of stories... |
Did you have a reaction to any of the stories or interviews featured in this program? Did we miss anything or do you have suggestions for future Outlook espisodes? If so, we want to hear from you. Drop us an email at nhoutlook@nhptv.org. As always, you can find these stories and more online at nhptv.org/outlook. Connect with us online. New Hampshire Outlook is available online on demand at nhptv.org/outlook. We've been streaming our programs since Outlook premiered in September 2000. Whether you want to watch this show again, email it to a friend, search and watch past programs or get more information on thousands of stories and topics, you'll find it all at nhptv.org/outlook. |
| Key: Community Politics/Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 6/24/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 26:00 Hello, I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. On July 1st, most of the courts in New Hampshire are undergoing the biggest reorganization in decades. The changes are mainly behind the scenes, and are intended to streamline operations, but some fear they are coming too quickly, and could further imperil a justice system already grappling with delays and funding issues. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David King\Deputy Admin. Judge, NH Circuit Court, Linda Dalianis\Chief Justice, NH Supreme Court, Ed Kelly\Administrative Judge, NH Circuit Court, Jennifer Parent\President, NH Bar Association |
| Key: Economy Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 6/24/2011 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 26:00 Hello, I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. On July 1st, most of the courts in New Hampshire are undergoing the biggest reorganization in decades. The changes are mainly behind the scenes, and are intended to streamline operations, but some fear they are coming too quickly, and could further imperil a justice system already grappling with delays and funding issues. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David King\Deputy Admin. Judge, NH Circuit Court, Linda Dalianis\Chief Justice, NH Supreme Court, Ed Kelly\Administrative Judge, NH Circuit Court, Jennifer Parent\President, NH Bar Association |