New Hampshire’s Superior Court system has announced it will be halting jury trials for the month of January, in an effort to save money.  New Hampshire is suffering from a state budget crisis, facing a $250 million revenue shortfall this year.  Approximately $73,000 will be saved by suspending jury trials, which is the monthly amount spent on stipends for jurors.  Although this measure will avoid lay-offs in the judicial system, it will have a negative effect on plaintiffs and defendants awaiting trial.  In New Hampshire’s largest counties, Hillsborough and Rockingham, it has been reported some 179 criminal and civil trials planned for February and March have been rescheduled.  The New York Times has reported that at least 20 state court systems are facing a deficit, and that those in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Minnesota were suffering the most.  For full article:    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/us/09court.html?scp=2&sq=New%20Hampshire&st=cse Read the rest of this entry »