NH Chief Justice protests $4 million in cuts

CONCORD (AP) – New Hampshire’s top judge has launched a rare public information campaign to battle a proposed $4 million in budget cuts for the judicial system.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick conducted media interviews Wednesday and appeared on an hour-long Webcast sponsored by the New Hampshire Bar Association to protest the budget cuts.

He said civil jury trials would be suspended and if security costs are cut, family courts would be closed on certain days.

Broderick said he would also have to stop using 13 judges who are paid by the day. Those judges hear 21 percent of the family court cases each year.