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New Hampshire

Overview

  • New Hampshire is a state-funded court system.  New Hampshire’s general fund appropriation was increased by 1-4% in FY10 and was decreased by 1-4% in FY11.  Its total state appropriation was $71.6 million in FY10 and $70.9 million in FY11.
  • New Hampshire is a state-funded court system.  New Hampshire’s total FY11 appropriation was reduced during the fiscal year by $1.5 million to $76.3 million.  Its FY12 appropriation is $76.7 million.  They will be able to maintain the same number of judges but will need to reduce the number of staff.  Spending on operating expenses will remain the same.
  • The New Hampshire Supreme Court created an Innovation Commission to, with the assistance of the National Center for State Courts, reengineer their court system so that they could continue to provide timely access to the courts without additional funds.  New Hampshire’s FY12 budget includes money to fund a number of special initiatives, all recommended by their Innovation Commission:
    • to establish a central Call Center, scheduled to open in January, 2012, established to relieve court staff around the state from most telephone coverage;
    • to restructure management in the limited jurisdiction Circuit Court;
    • to employ part-time case processors, a judicial referee, and 5 IT professionals;
    • to implement new jury management software;
    • to expand public access to their case management system, and
    • to provide internet service for video conferencing.
  • To reduce spending, the New Hampshire courts have reduced hours of operation, imposed staff layoffs and delayed filing judicial vacancies.  Part-time staff are being hired to avoid the cost of full-time benefit packages.  Four of the general jurisdiction superior courts have closed to the public 2-3 afternoons per week to catch up on case processing backlogs.
  • As a result of the work of the Innovation Commission, the district, probate and family divisions were legislatively reorganized into circuit courts with fewer clerks of court managing them.  The offices of three Administrative Judges will be co-located to reduce facility rental expense.  New Hampshire has instituted LEAN analyses for personnel and payroll functions.
  • The NH legislature invested $2.6M in capital funds and $2.96M in FY 12 operating funds to enable the Judicial Branch to make the changes recommended by the Innovation Commission. While they have a lot of work ahead of them, the New Hampshire courts believe that they are currently well positioned to improve access and timely justice in the next 1-6 years. Their budget allows them to seek additional operating funds from the Legislative Fiscal Committee in FY 13 if they are able to demonstrate significant progress toward implementation.
  • For more information on the accomplishment of their Innovation Commission,  see www.courts.state.nh.us for the  "Report on Judicial Branch Implementation of Innovation Commission Recommendations."

Reports and Articles

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