NH courts rate poorly, lawyer survey shows

NH courts rate poorly, lawyer survey shows

CONCORD:
Lawyers around the state gave the states courts a barely passing grade, rating the system 5 ½ on a scale of 1 to 10, the New Hampshire Bar News reports.

The state Bar Association (a professional association to which all lawyers are required to contribute) surveyed members by e-mail, asking them to rate the state courts on a simple scale, and comment on their concerns.

The states Superior and Probate Courts are organized by county, while district courts are regional. Superior courts handle lawsuits, criminal cases and other legal disputes. District courts handle small claims, misdemeanors and restraining orders.

According to an article in this months Bar News, Bar members responding to a recent e-mail survey said they are extremely concerned about the functioning of the state courts.

Cheshire County had the lowest ratings, with an average of 3.8, while Grafton County rated highest at 6.4. Hillsborough South in Nashua rated 5.7, topping the northern division (4.9).

The survey asked lawyers to rate the states court system "in serving the needs of your clients and the public" on a scale of 1 to 10, the Bar News reports.

Over 550 lawyers (just over 10 percent) responded to the survey, the Bar News article reports. Their top concerns included delays in processing motions and orders and inefficient scheduling. Lawyers tended to blame staffing levels and absence of computerized systems for the problems, and some lauded the diligence of court personnel working in difficult circumstances, the article states.

The survey was done at the request of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick , who mentioned it during a recent hearing before the House Finance Committee.

We’re under six on a ten point scale, Broderick said. In one county, 55% of the lawyers gave the court system a 3 or less. That’s embarrassing.

The article quotes one lawyer noting that delays mostly hurt people who already have been harmed in some way.

Those who benefit from the status quo love a clogged, inefficient judicial branch," the lawyer stated.

- Andrew Wolfe

The article can be found on the New Hampshire Bar News Web site: