Leadership New Hampshire

Education: March 12, 2009

2009-03-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

So, let's talk about what you learned from "Education" day...

Government & Politics

2009-02-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

After two information-packed days of this, what's on your mind?

Supreme Court Visit: February 3, 2009

2009-02-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

What did you learn that surprised you today? What were your "take-away" thoughts? Blog now or forever hold your peace...

ENVIRONMENT DAY

2009-01-16T07:16:00.000-08:00

As you were driving home last night, what struck you as the most surprising thing that you learned at yesterday's session? Have you made a personal resolve to change something about your lifestyle as a result of this program day? What do you see as the biggest environmental issue facing New Hampshire? Did you hear any good news yesterday? How have you described yesterday to your family or co-workers?

This is your chance to continue the dialogue with each other!

Health Program Day

2008-12-08T10:20:00.001-08:00

December 11, 2008

Criminal Justice: November 13, 2008

2008-11-14T05:36:00.000-08:00

You must have a number of thoughts mulling around in your mind after such a thought-provoking day; share them with your fellow Associates. This is a terrific way to continue the conversation!

2008-10-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

What is NH? October 16, 2008

LNH Retreat - September 2008

2008-09-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

What was the most interesting thing that you learned at the Retreat? What surprised you the most? What, for you, was the most memorable moment? Was the Retreat what you had envisioned?

Welcome LNH Class of 2009!

2008-08-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

LNH Graduation - Class of 2008

2008-03-21T07:33:00.001-07:00

What did you think of the year? What are your parting thoughts? We will miss you, Class of 2008!

LNH and the North Country

2008-03-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Click below to add your comments from the North Country session.

LNH Education

2008-03-21T07:31:00.001-07:00

What did you think of this session?

Government & Politics and the Supreme Court

2008-03-21T07:05:00.001-07:00

What did you think of these sessions?

LNH and the Environment

2008-01-11T08:16:00.001-08:00

What did you think of the new day? Click below to add your comments or to read others.

LNH and Health

2008-01-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Click below to add your comments from the Health session and/or the Health follow-up chat.

LNH and Criminal Justice

2007-11-15T06:32:00.001-08:00

What did you think of the session? Add your thoughts by clicking on comments!

What is NH?

2007-10-31T09:04:00.001-07:00

What are your thoughts, Class of 2008?

Welcome to the LNH CLass of 2008!

2007-09-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Read the comments to hear how this year's LNH Class of 2008 retreat went!

LNH Govt & Politics

2007-01-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

Click here to post and read!

LNH at the Supreme Court

2007-01-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

LNH Visit to the NH Supreme Court
Tuesday afternoon, January 23, 2007
Kevin Peterson

The LNH Class of 2007 spent an enlightening three hours at the NH Supreme Court on January 23rd. About 20 members of the class were able to attend. Several attorneys in the class could not attend because they or their firm have a pending case before the court.

We arrived and passed through a metal detector inside the front door, then gathered in the court chambers. Laura Kiernan, special assistant to the Chief Justice, greeted us and provided a brief orientation to the building, which was constructed in 1970 and named in honor of Frank Kenison, who served as Chief Justice for 25 years. The large, high-ceilinged court chamber is adorned with paintings of all the former Chief Justices of the court. She also pointed out a small web camera mounted on the rear wall. All Supreme Court proceedings are broadcast on a live webcast. On the day that we visited, a NH public television crew also was visiting the court to do filming for an episode of the “A Day in the Life” series.

The five justices joined us in the chamber for an hour-long introduction and question-and-answer session. They sat facing us in five wooden chairs with the Supreme Court logo. As is customary, they sat “in formation”, with Chief Justice John Broderick in the center, flanked—in descending order of seniority—by Senior Associate Justice Linda Dalianis and Associate Justices James Duggan, Richard Galway and Gary Hicks. After introductions all around, each of the justices provided some brief background information on the court and its workings, followed by questions and dialog with the group. Discussion ranged from pressing priorities of the court system (new technology, workload, staffing, security) to common law, personal aspirations about becoming a justice (all five suggested that becoming a Supreme Court justice was not something they strove to achieve—in most cases, their arrival on the court was an accident or a case of luck or being in the right place at the right time), the time it takes to become fully versed in the court and a really effective justice (five to 12 years), and balancing the work of the court with home life and avocations. Don Kreis pointedly asked, “Is oral argument really worth anything?”, to which the justices answered “YES”, “Sometimes”, and “Depends on the attorney making the argument.” All of the justices agreed that oral argument can be very valuable, particularly to them (even though the attorneys think it’s really for THEM).

Later, we broke into three, smaller groups to visit with justices in their chambers. My group joined Justice Galway in his small office, which was adorned with paintings and photos from around New Hampshire, including several large prints of the Old Man of the Mountain. Justice Galway shared his insights about the collegiality of the court, the process of developing written opinions, the work of court clerks (each justice is assigned two clerks, whom they have a hand in selecting), the limited security in some of the court facilities around the state, the challenges of modernizing the state court system with financial resources so limited, the give-and-take involved in forming majorities (which can change in the course of writing an opinion), and many other topics. We talked a bit about the impact of the 2000 impeachment of three justices and the “trial” before the NH Senate of then-Chief Justice David Brock.

Our final gathering was in the court conference room at the back of the building. We reconvened as a large group, and Justice Broderick described the room and its furnishings, which included several original works of art on loan from the Currier Gallery. He noted that were this a federal court, the windows would be covered and a perimeter fence installed for security. As of yet, that has not been necessary in NH. He displayed a silver pitcher, the bequest of the wife of a former Chief Justice (it was a wedding present to the two of them in the 1930s), which is used to hold numbers representing cases to be assigned for writing to each of the five justices. While one Justice remarked that a Tupperware container could work just as well, it was pointed out that the pitcher represents an important thread of history for the Court—the hands of dozens of justices have reached into it to randomly select cases for assignment (including current US Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who was a NH Supreme Court Justice in the late-1980s).

Today was yet another example of the incredible opportunity offered by LNH: the chance to gain invaluable insight into the inner workings of this state.

Community Building

2007-01-25T07:04:00.000-08:00

Post your comments here and click to read!

LNH Criminal Justice - Class of 2007

2006-11-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

Click below on comments to read what class members are experiencing!

LNH What is NH? - Class of 07

2006-10-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

Click on "comments" below to hear what the class of 07 had to say about this day!

LNH Retreat - Class of 2007

2006-09-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Click on the "comments" below to hear what the class of 07 had to say!

Leadership New Hampshire

2006-08-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hi, this is where LNHers can post their experiences in the current year program, and/or Alumni can post their LNH experiences. The goal is to have a cross-pollination of classes, update Alumni on happenings in the current class, and give LNHers an outlet for their LNH experiences. We hope you'll send us a post today!
www.leadershipnh.org