| This
Commission was created to gauge public
perceptions of the courts in NH, and
to receive and formulate recommendations
to address their concerns. To
that end, the commission held twenty-two
“Listening Sessions” in eleven locations
around the state. It also distributed
surveys and invited contact by email
and letter from interested persons.
The following represents the criticisms
and concerns of the people who responded.
In tabulating those
responses, people testifying at more
than one listening session, or submitting
more than one survey, were only counted
on the first instance, as far as possible.
71 persons spoke
at listening sessions, not including
multiple appearances.
67 surveys were
returned. (Duplicates eliminated)
56 emails were received.
TOTAL CONTACTS:
194
Complaints/concerns
involving the Family Courts:
96 Complaints/concerns
involving all other courts:
33
Probate court: 5
District court: 12
Supreme court: 5
Superior court: 10 Part
time courts: 1
Persons expressing
a negative perception of the courts:
103
NATURE OF CONCERNS:
Expense of going to court:
79 Bias against fathers:
74 Suspicion of corruption/criminal
acts: 40 Allegations
of Denial of Rights/Denial of Due
Process: 36 Profiteering
(to benefit courts, lawyers, &
others): 23
Problems with delays and scheduling:
23 Problems with false
complaints of domestic violence:
21 Ineffectiveness of the
Committee on Judicial Conduct:
21
Filing delays/staff
shortages: 7
Judicial Activism
(legislating from the bench):
6
Lack of training
for GAL’s: 6
Lack of security:
5
Need for technical
updates: 5
Need for assistance
for pro-se litigants: 4
Bias against women:
3
Need for “Restorative
Justice” programs: 2
More use of Mediation:
2
One response for
each of the following:
Orientation for
jurors
Lack of training for judges
Bias favoring
cities and towns
Treatment programs for drug offenders
Access/input
to Grand Juries
Concern about life tenure for judges
Treatment of mental
illness programs in prison
Additional funding for indigent defense
Sentencing
of sex offenders
Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Alternatives for
juvenile defenders
Need for case managers
|
