Supreme Court - Rules of The Supreme Court of the State of New Hampshire - Rule 54. Administration of the Courts

Supreme Court - Rules of The Supreme Court of the State of New Hampshire - Rule 54. Administration of the Courts

(1) Pursuant to N.H. Const. art. 73-a, the chief justice, with the concurrence of a majority of the supreme court justices, makes this rule governing the administration of the courts. (2) There is hereby established the position of state court administrator. The state court administrator shall, in collaboration with the chief justice of the supreme court, the chief justice of the superior court and the chief judge of the circuit court, have responsibility for the administration, operation and improvement of all administrative functions of the judicial branch. The state court administrator shall be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court with the concurrence of a majority of the supreme court justices for a term stated in the order of appointment. The state court administrator shall be a judge of the superior or circuit court and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and at the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court. The state court administrator shall ensure compliance with the policies, rules, orders and guidelines established by the supreme court for the administration, operation and improvement of the judicial branch and shall ensure compliance with state and federal laws. The state court administrator shall regularly communicate with the chief judges and shall collaboratively address concerns relating to the administration or operation of the superior court and the circuit court. The administrative functions of the judicial branch shall include: a. All employment-related functions, including the retention and discharge of all non-judicial personnel except as otherwise provided in this rule, and managing the relationships with public employee unions. b. Preparation of judicial branch budget requests. c. Supervision of the judicial branch’s information and central processing centers. d. All judicial branch finance, accounting and grants administration. e. All judicial branch procurement and contracting. f. All judicial branch information technology and implementation of information technology-related projects. g. All judicial branch data and statistical reporting. h. Supervision of all judicial branch communications personnel. i. All judicial branch project management, research and planning, risk management and compliance. j. All judicial branch training. k. All judicial branch domestic violence program management. l. All superior court and circuit court case processing procedures. m. Supervision of bail commissioners, centralized jury administration and warrant processing. n. All judicial branch security-related services, including supervision of circuit court security and coordination with county sheriffs with respect to superior court security. o. Judicial branch facilities management, in coordination with the bureau of court facilities. p. All judicial branch alternative dispute resolution services. q. Administrative support for the judicial branch internal audit function. r. Administrative support for all judicial branch treatment courts. s. Administrative support for the John W. King Law Library, the Attorney Discipline Office, the Office of Bar Admissions and the Committee on Judicial Conduct; and t. Such other functions as may be assigned by the chief justice of the supreme court. (3) There is hereby established the administrative office of the courts to discharge the administrative functions of the courts under the direction of the state court administrator. The state court administrator shall be the administrative authority for the administrative office of the courts. (4) The chief justice of the supreme court shall be the administrative authority for the clerk, reporter of decisions, supervisory law clerks, law clerks and staff attorneys of the supreme court. (5) The chief justice of the superior court shall be the administrative authority for the judges, supervisory law clerks and law clerks of the superior court and the administrative assistant to the chief justice. The chief justice of the superior court shall appoint a presiding judge for each superior court location and shall assign judges to court locations and, unless appointment authority is vested in a different person or body, to judicial branch committees. The chief justice of the superior court shall counsel, assist and supervise superior court judges in the performance of their adjudicatory responsibilities. The chief justice of the superior court shall represent the superior court in its relations with other courts of the state, other branches of government of the state, the bar, and the public. (6) There is hereby established the position of chief judge of the circuit court. The chief judge of the circuit court shall be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court with the concurrence of a majority of the supreme court justices for a term stated in the order of appointment. The chief judge of the circuit court shall be the administrative authority for the judges of the circuit court and the staff attorneys. The chief judge of the circuit court shall appoint presiding judges and shall assign judges to court locations and, unless appointment authority is vested in a different person or body, to judicial branch committees. The chief judge of the circuit court shall counsel, assist and supervise circuit court judges in the performance of their adjudicatory responsibilities. The chief judge of the circuit court shall represent the circuit court in its relations with other courts of the state, other branches of government of the state, the bar, and the public. The chief judge of the circuit court shall perform all duties assigned by statute to the administrative judge of the circuit court. (7) The appointment of clerks in the supreme court, superior court and circuit court as well as bail commissioners shall be pursuant to the constitution or statute. (8) There is hereby established the council of chief judges. The council shall consist of the chief justice of the supreme court, the chief justice of the superior court, the chief judge of the circuit court and the state court administrator. The council shall meet regularly to ensure the judicial branch provides accessible, prompt and efficient forums for the fair and independent administration of justice and with respect for the dignity of all persons served by the courts. The council shall be a forum for the exchange of ideas and information for the improvement of the justice system. The council shall make recommendations for the effective administration of the judicial branch to the supreme court. The council shall perform all duties assigned by statute to the judicial branch administrative council.