On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, NHPR reported that New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi concluded her year-long legal battle by entering a plea in a Concord courtroom. The brief hearing, lasting less than 15 minutes, brought an end to the criminal case where state prosecutors accused her of leveraging her position as a high-ranking judge to aid her husband, Geno Marconi, who was facing legal issues.

Hantz Marconi pleaded no contest to a single charge of criminal solicitation. The charge stemmed from a private conversation she had in June of the previous year with then-Governor Chris Sununu. At the time of the conversation, Geno Marconi, who served as the state port director, was under investigation for allegedly sharing confidential records. This situation had previously led Hantz Marconi to recuse herself from any cases involving the New Hampshire Department of Justice. Prosecutors had alleged that she attempted to influence Sununu to intervene on her husband’s behalf, a claim that Sununu himself disagreed with.

During the hearing, Hantz Marconi affirmed to Judge Martin Honigberg that she understood the implications of her plea. The courtroom was filled with friends and supporters.

The plea agreement includes a $1,200 fine and $288 in additional court fees, but stipulates no jail time. By entering a “no contest” plea, Hantz Marconi acknowledged that the state possessed sufficient evidence to convict her, without formally admitting guilt.

While this plea concludes the criminal case, which was heading towards a trial in November and carried the potential for imprisonment given the severity of the charges, Hantz Marconi’s legal challenges are not entirely resolved. Her law license remains suspended, and she still faces an open case before the Judicial Conduct Committee, which is responsible for reviewing allegations of misconduct by state judges.

Following the plea hearing, the New Hampshire Supreme Court announced the lifting of its administrative suspension of Hantz Marconi. However, the court clarified that she would not resume her judicial duties until her law license is reinstated in New Hampshire.

Deputy Attorney General James Boffetti described the resolution of the court case as a “sad day” for the state, asserting that Hantz Marconi’s actions had crossed a significant line.

“Her actions violated those core principles and represented a serious breach of the public trust,” Boffetti told reporters after the hearing. “This conviction today reinforces a fundamental principle of our justice system that no one is above the law, not even a justice of the Supreme Court.”

Hantz Marconi declined to comment to reporters after the hearing. Her attorney, Richard Guerriero, stated that his client “continues to disagree with the Attorney General’s characterization of her actions.” He added that she entered the plea to avoid a high-profile trial and that “she looks forward to getting back to work.”

Hantz Marconi is set to turn 70 in February, which is the mandatory retirement age for judges in New Hampshire. She was initially appointed to the Supreme Court by Sununu in 2017.

According to the terms of the plea agreement, state prosecutors have agreed to classify her actions as not a “serious crime.” This distinction could be significant regarding Hantz Marconi’s efforts to regain her law license, which is currently suspended. The code of conduct for attorneys in New Hampshire outlines potential consequences for engaging in serious crimes but does not explicitly detail ramifications for lesser offenses.

Geno Marconi remains on administrative leave from his position as state ports director by the New Hampshire Port Authority. He was indicted for allegedly sharing confidential motor vehicle records related to a member of the board of the Pease Development Authority, which oversees the state’s ports. Prosecutors allege that Geno Marconi was retaliating against the board member, although they have not provided further details. Geno Marconi has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial early next year.

Hantz Marconi’s trial, had it proceeded, was anticipated to involve prominent figures from the state’s legal and political spheres. Sununu was expected to testify, and Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, along with other justices, might have been called as witnesses. Hantz Marconi claims she sought MacDonald’s advice on whether she could meet with Sununu to advocate for her husband, a claim that the chief justice has denied.

Both Sununu and MacDonald were interviewed by prosecutors, as was Rudy Ogden, who served as Sununu’s legal counsel and was present during the June 2024 meeting between the governor and Hantz Marconi.

In his interview with investigators, Sununu stated that while he found the encounter with Hantz Marconi “awkward,” he did not believe she crossed any ethical lines by requesting favorable treatment for her husband.

In addition to her contacts with Sununu, Hantz Marconi was also accused of attempting to influence Steve Duprey, the head of the board overseeing the Pease Development Authority, concerning the investigation into her husband.

 

 

Source: NHPR