NHJB Committee on Domestic Violence
Status Report
DV Committee Updated Status Report March 2023
On March 8, 2022, the Supreme Court created a Committee on Domestic Violence as a standing committee in the Judicial Branch. The initial charge of this Committee is to catalogue all of the recommendations made by the Task Force on Domestic Violence from early March 2022. The Committee will then monitor the implementation of those recommendations that have been adopted or approved by the Judicial Branch.
Committee members include:
- Hon. Ellen V. Christo (Chair), NH Circuit Court Administrative Judge
- Hon. Kimberly Chabot, Justice of the Circuit Court
- Hon. Joe Tessier, Justice of the Circuit Court
- Jessica Humphrey, NH Judicial Branch Domestic Violence Program Manager
- Katie Tripp - Circuit court clerk - Brentwood
- Elaine Lowe - Circuit Court Clerk - Conway/Ossipee
- Jenn Haggar, Superior Court Administrator
- Tanya Pitman, Statewide Mental Health Court Coordinator
- Av Harris, NH Judicial Branch Communications Manager/Public Information Officer
Recommendations to be Implemented
The recommendations being monitored by the Committee are based on seven categories. These include:
- Review existing court practice and procedures and identify resources necessary to better support victims of domestic violence
- Analyze the current status of New Hampshire law regarding domestic violence
- Recommend criteria for the Judicial Branch to make public on its website appellate decisions related to RSA chapters 173-B and RSA 633:3-a
- Review court forms as they relate to protection from domestic violence and make recommendations for improvement
- Explore opportunities to provide victims of domestic violence increased access to assistance from attorneys and victim advocates
- Analyze the current state of relationships between the courts, law enforcement, the criminal defense bar, and domestic violence advocates and steps that can be taken to improve communication
- Other relevant subject matters
The Committee has created a catalogue of recommendations that denotes those that can be implemented entirely by the Judicial Branch and those which will require action by external stakeholders and government officials.
Committee Reports & Minutes
The Committee produces regular status reports to the Supreme Court that document the progress on the implementation of the recommendations.
- January 18, 2023
- November 9, 2022
- October 12, 2022
- July 7, 2022
- June 20, 2022
- June 9, 2022
- May 12, 2022
- May 5, 2022
- April 12, 2022
- March 29, 2022
Presentations
Changes to Court Website, Forms and Other Processes to Implement Task Force Recommendations
- Order on Objection to Extension of DV/Stalking Final Order (NHJB-2977-DF)
- Order on Further Extension of DV/ Stalking Final Protective Order (NHJB-2100-DFS)
- Order on Initial Extension of DV/Stalking Final Protective Order (NHJB-2041-DFS)
- Stalking Final Order (NHJB-2003-D)
- DV Final Order (NHJB-2001-DF)
- Website Homepage "I want to... File a petition for Domestic Violence or Stalking Order of Protection"
- New Legal Guides about Domestic Violence and Stalking webpage
Task Force Report
The Task Force on Domestic Violence Cases in the New Hampshire Judicial Branch released a lengthy report from which the recommendations were derived that can be found at https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt471/files/inline-documents/sonh/task-force-on-domestic-violence-cases-in-the-new-hampshire-judicial-branch-report-to-the-new-hampshire-supreme-court.pdf
Also see this page for more information on the Domestic Violence Task Force.