New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi Placed on Paid Leave

On Friday, July 26, 2024, The Eagle-Tribune reported that the New Hampshire Supreme Court placed one of its justices on paid administrative leave.

According to the report, the Supreme Court issued an order stating that Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi will be on administrative leave with pay for 90 days, though this period could be shortened or extended. Court spokesman Av Harris said no information was provided about why the Supreme Court took this action against Justice Hantz Marconi.

The order, signed by Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald and concurred by three other justices, relieves Hantz Marconi of her judicial and administrative duties for the court. In May, she had begun recusing herself from cases involving the Attorney General’s Office, though the AG’s office did not provide any comment about the situation.

Justice Hantz Marconi’s husband, Geno Marconi, director of the New Hampshire Division of Ports and Harbors, had also been placed on paid leave in April by the Pease Development Authority, the agency that oversees the division. However, the PDA has provided no information on the reason for his administrative leave or how long it will last.

Court spokesman Harris said the court does not usually disclose the reasons for recusals, but Justice Hantz Marconi did so in this case, stating her understanding that the AG’s office has been advising the PDA on matters related to her husband’s position. PDA executive director Paul Brean also confirmed Director Marconi’s paid leave in April but said privacy laws prevented further details.

During her leave, Justice Hantz Marconi will not have any judicial or administrative duties. The Supreme Court will reassign her workload and responsibilities to other justices and superior court judges as needed. If her participation is required to achieve a three-justice quorum, superior court judges will be randomly selected to join cases, according to standard procedures.

The clerk of the Supreme Court will notify parties in pending cases of these changes.

Source: The Eagle-Tribune