Revision: Jan. 6, 2020, 3:37 p.m.
SB 604 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2741
04/06
SENATE BILL 604
AN ACT naming certain courtrooms in the tenth circuit district court.
SPONSORS: Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 21; Rep. Loughman, Rock. 21; Rep. Bushway, Rock. 21; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Janvrin, Rock. 37
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill provides for naming of the 2 courtrooms in the tenth circuit district court house in Hampton after Justice H. Alfred Casassa and Justice Francis J. "Whitey" Frasier. The bill also provides that the name of a person may be removed from the courtroom for certain acts of misconduct.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2741
04/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
AN ACT naming certain courtrooms in the tenth circuit district court.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings. The general court finds that:
I. Since Hampton became a town in 1639, a system of appointed persons to hear disputes and maintain law and order has been in place. In 1919, the police court was replaced by the municipal court. In 1964, Hampton became a district court location serving Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, South Hampton, and Seabrook, the same communities that it serves today.
II. In 1972, Governor Walter Peterson appointed H. Alfred Casassa to serve as a part-time judge. Judge Casassa served through 1979 when the number of cases increased to 1,400 related to the protest demonstrations of the Seabrook nuclear power station and it was determined that the court needed to move to a full-time judge.
III. In 1980, Francis J. "Whitey" Frasier was appointed as the first full-time judge of the court. He served as a special judge under Judge Casassa. Judge Frasier served 28 years on the bench of the Hampton district court until his retirement in 2008.
IV. Because of the exemplary leadership of these individuals, and their demonstrated commitment to the community, the courtrooms in the new tenth circuit district court located at 2 Timber Swamp Road, Hampton shall be named in their honor.
2 Tenth Circuit Court, District Division; Courtrooms Named. Courtroom One of the new tenth circuit district court building is hereby named after Francis "Whitey" Frasier, the first full-time judge for the court, and Courtroom Two in the new tenth circuit district court building is hereby named after H. Alfred Casassa, the last part-time judge serving the court. Appropriate signage may be placed in the court house and at each courtroom.
3 Removal of Name for Misconduct. The chief justice of the supreme court may, upon his or her its own initiative or upon written complaint of any person which charges that a person whose name appears on a courtroom pursuant to section 2 of this act committed misconduct and which specifies the grounds therefor, remove the name of such person from the courtroom. Misconduct sufficient to support removal of a name under this section shall include:
I. The practice of fraud or deceit;
II. Conviction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude;
III. Any unprofessional conduct, or dishonorable conduct unworthy of, and affecting the judicial profession; or
IV. Unfitness or incompetency by reason of negligent habits or other causes; or negligent or willful acts performed in a manner inconsistent with the interests of persons relying on the judicial profession.
4 Signage. The cost of design, construction, maintenance, and installation of any signage, replacement of signage, or other markers permitted under this act shall not be a charge to the state. However, the design, construction, and installation of any signage or other markers required under this act shall be approved by the judicial branch.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.