Litigation

Lawsuit Filed Over NH Budget Cuts

By Peter Hardin

Seeking to restore to New Hampshire’s courts $4 million that was cut in a biennial budget, a group of lawyers has filed suit against the state.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Chuck Douglas leads the attorney group. It contends that the funds, once restored, would do away with cutbacks to civil jury trials, court clerk hours and staff, according to a National Law Journal article.

Not since 1984 has a case “squarely attacked the public access aspect of declining court budgets,” according to Greg Hurley of the National Center for State Courts, a partner of Justice at Stake.

The petitioners say New Hampshire cut budget cuts do not comply with the state Constitution, which states that citizens are promised prompt civil jury trials.

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 29, 2010 (boomark / email).