Bill > HB1130

This bill revises the judicial performance evaluation (JPE) process in New Hampshire, expanding its scope and requirements. The bill broadens the definition of "judicial officer" to include full and part-time judges, senior status judges, and judicial referees, and mandates a comprehensive evaluation program designed by the chief justice and supreme court. The JPE program will now include multiple evaluation methods such as questionnaires, self-evaluations, in-court observations, and statistical analysis of case processing times. Questionnaires will be available to attorneys, parties, witnesses, jurors, and court personnel, asking about judicial performance, temperament, management skills, legal knowledge, and objectivity. Each judicial officer will be evaluated at least once every three years, with a follow-up evaluation required if they do not achieve a satisfactory rating. The bill also introduces new accountability measures, such as potential disciplinary action for judges who fail to achieve satisfactory evaluations in two consecutive reviews. Additionally, the supreme court must now publish individual performance evaluation reports and submit an annual report detailing the evaluation process, including the number of evaluations, response rates, and actions taken to address any deficiencies. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage and is estimated to increase state expenditures by approximately $160,000 to $180,000 annually, primarily due to additional administrative staff and per-diem judges conducting evaluations.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1480&inflect=2