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1 New Section; Abuse of Office; Reporting of Violation of Rights. Amend RSA 643 by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
643:3 Reporting of Violation of Rights Committed by Members of the Judicial Branch.
I. Any state employee, bar association member or attorney permitted to practice law in the state of New Hampshire, or any state or federal employee working in New Hampshire on a grant, or being paid by the state of New Hampshire or any division or organization funded by or through the state of New Hampshire, including judges, clerks, court staff, bailiffs, and court security, shall be a mandatory reporter of violations of civil rights by any member of the judicial branch and any violations of the New Hampshire code of judicial conduct's requirement that a judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety at all times.
II. If any mandatory reporter as defined in paragraph I has reasonable cause to believe that there may be a violation of a right or code of conduct as described in paragraph I, the mandatory reporter shall as soon as practicable make a report to the attorney general's office. As used in this paragraph, "reasonable cause to believe" shall include any suspected violations made in the mandatory reporter's presence or reported to them verbally or in writing.
III. The attorney general's office shall forward all notices received pursuant to paragraph II to the administrative office of the court, the appropriate county sheriff, and the chief justice of the New Hampshire supreme court.
IV. Any mandatory reporter as defined in paragraph I who fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a $1,500 fine and one week incarceration in a county correctional facility.
V. Any reporter who make a good faith report under this section shall not be subject to any retaliation based on their good faith report.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Section; Abuse of Office; Reporting of Violation of Rights. Amend RSA 643 by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
643:3 Reporting of Violation of Rights Committed by Members of the Judicial Branch.
I. Any state employee, bar association member or attorney permitted to practice law in the state of New Hampshire, or any state or federal employee working in New Hampshire on a grant, or being paid by the state of New Hampshire or any division or organization funded by or through the state of New Hampshire, including judges, clerks, court staff, bailiffs, and court security, shall be a mandatory reporter of violations of civil rights by any member of the judicial branch and any violations of the New Hampshire code of judicial conduct's requirement that a judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety at all times.
II. If any mandatory reporter as defined in paragraph I has reasonable cause to believe that there may be a violation of a right or code of conduct as described in paragraph I, the mandatory reporter shall as soon as practicable make a report to the attorney general's office. As used in this paragraph, "reasonable cause to believe" shall include any suspected violations made in the mandatory reporter's presence or reported to them verbally or in writing.
III. The attorney general's office shall forward all notices received pursuant to paragraph II to the administrative office of the court, the appropriate county sheriff, and the chief justice of the New Hampshire supreme court.
IV. Any mandatory reporter as defined in paragraph I who fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a $1,500 fine and one week incarceration in a county correctional facility.
V. Any reporter who make a good faith report under this section shall not be subject to any retaliation based on their good faith report.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.