Bill Text - HB1177 (2020)

Relative to qualifications of referees in the superior courts and circuit courts.


Revision: Dec. 2, 2019, 11:09 a.m.

HB 1177 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2235

04/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1177

 

AN ACT relative to qualifications of referees in the superior courts and circuit courts.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Camarota, Hills. 7; Rep. Rice, Hills. 37; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Giuda, Dist 2; Sen. French, Dist 7

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires referees, marital referees, or marital masters serving on the superior courts and the circuit courts who are not former or retired judges to be commissioned as justices of the peace.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2235

04/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to qualifications of referees in the superior courts and circuit courts.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Findings.  The legislature finds that every marital master discharged as a consequence of 2012, 66 (HB 151) who has not retired nor become a judge has been hired as a referee without statutory authorization and is performing the same function as a marital referee.  Therefore, it is necessary to provide legislative and executive oversight of all individuals serving as jurists.

2  New Section; Superior Court Referees.  Amend RSA 491 by inserting after section 23 the following new section:

491:23-a  Referees.  A referee serving on the superior court on or after January 1, 2021 who is not a former or retired judge shall be commissioned as a justice of the peace.

3  Circuit Court Referees.  Amend RSA 490:15 to read as follows:

490-F:15  Referees.

I.  The circuit court, with the consent of the parties shall, and without the consent of the parties may, commit to one or more referees any cause at law or in equity, or the determination of any question of fact pending in the court wherein the parties are not, as matter of right, entitled to a trial by jury; and with the consent of the parties shall in the same manner commit any other cause or the determination of any other question of fact.

II.  A referee, marital referee, or marital master serving on the circuit court on or after January 1, 2021 who is not a former or retired judge shall be commissioned as a justice of the peace.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.