CONCORD – Following the Governor’s March 13 declaration of a State of Emergency, New Hampshire Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Gary E. Hicks exercised special powers provided to him under the authority of RSA 490:6-a to issue an order Monday to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject to exceptions, all in-person proceedings in the Circuit, Superior and Supreme Courts are suspended from close of business on Monday, March 16, 2020 through April 6, 2020.
Exceptions to suspension of in-person court proceedings include, but are not limited to:
Proceedings necessary to protect constitutional rights of criminal defendants, including bail-related matters and plea agreements for incarcerated individuals.
Requests for orders of protection for domestic violence under RSA 173-B, stalking under RSA 633:3-a and juvenile abuse under RSA 169-C:7-a, and hearings on such orders.
Requests for child-related emergency orders in divorce/parenting cases under RSA 461-A and hearings on any emergency relief ordered.
Division for Children, Youth and Families’ requests for emergency orders, hearings on such orders, and adjudicatory hearings in RSA 169-C cases if children are in out-of-home placement.
Requests for detention or placement of a juvenile under RSA 169-B and adjudicatory hearings in RSA 169-B cases in which the juvenile is detained or in an out-of-home placement.
Requests for placement of a juvenile under RSA 169-D and adjudicatory hearings in RSA 169-D cases in which the juvenile is in an out-of-home placement.
Proceedings related to petitions for temporary emergency injunctive relief.
Proceedings related to emergency mental health orders, including Involuntary Emergency Admission and Involuntary Admission (probate commitment) proceedings under RSA 135-C.
Requests for emergency orders in minor guardianship cases under RSA 463 or guardianship over incapacitated persons under RSA 464-A, and hearings on such orders.
Requests for emergency relief under RSA 540-A in landlord/tenant matters and hearings on such orders.
Proceedings directly related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Other exceptions as approved by the Senior Associate Justice.
The Supreme Court order can be found at: https://www.courts.state.nh.us/supreme/orders/3-16-20-order.pdf The courthouses of New Hampshire remain open to the public. If you have questions about whether you should