Sullivan County Court Guide Covers Jury Duty, Dockets, and Reporting Procedures

Sullivan County Superior Court sits at 22 Main Street in Newport, inside a building most residents know by a different name. The courthouse occupies the Opera House Building, directly across from Lake Sunapee Bank. Whether you've been summoned for jury duty, need to check a hearing time, or want to observe a proceeding, understanding how the court operates day-to-day is one of the most practical things any county resident can do.

The courthouse: location, hours, and who to call

Sullivan Superior Court is located at 22 Main Street, Newport, NH 03773, with clerk Brendon C. Thurston on staff. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and can be reached by phone at 1-855-212-1234.

Parking is straightforward once you know where to look. The parking lot is located on Sunapee Street, across from the Sheriff's Office. There is also 2-hour parking in front of the building or in the public parking area at the median.

Directions vary depending on where you're coming from in the county:

• From Claremont, head east on Route 11/103 (Washington Street), passing Walmart, K-Mart, and Market Basket into Newport. At the second set of lights, take a left. The courthouse will be on your right in the Opera House Building, across from Lake Sunapee Bank.
• From Concord or Manchester, take Interstate 89 North, exit at Exit 9 (Warner, Route 103), turn right onto Route 103 West, and follow it all the way to Newport.
• From Lebanon, take I-89 South to Exit 13 (Grantham), turn right, and follow Route 10 South into Newport. The courthouse will be on your left in the Opera House Building, across from Lake Sunapee Bank.

What the Sullivan County Superior Court handles

New Hampshire Superior Courts are trial courts that handle a wide range of case types, conducting both jury and non-jury trials. The Superior Court is the only court in the state with the authority to conduct a trial by jury, and its jurisdiction extends to both civil and criminal matters.

Cases handled include felony criminal jury trials covering crimes such as burglary, theft, drug offenses, and aggravated sexual assault, as well as appeals of Circuit Court decisions on misdemeanors. A Business and Commercial Dispute Docket, established in 2008, handles complex business matters potentially involving damages above $50,000.

The court also holds exclusive jurisdiction over petitions for injunctive relief from court orders, appeals from zoning and planning board decisions, disputes over title to real estate, and petitions to enforce contracts.

Jury duty: what to expect when you're summoned

As a citizen of New Hampshire, you have certain rights and responsibilities, including the duty imposed by both the U.S. Constitution and the New Hampshire Constitution to serve as a partner in the administration of justice. Jury service places a real burden on jurors by interrupting personal and business lives, but it also represents a unique privilege for citizens to meaningfully participate in the judicial system.

Juror names are drawn from two sources. The court randomly draws names from general election voter registration lists provided by all New Hampshire cities and towns, as well as a list of active licensed drivers maintained by the Motor Vehicle Division of the New Hampshire Department of Safety.

Once summoned, the process has two phases. The first phase requires completion of a Qualifying Questionnaire, accessible through the eJuror online portal, which helps the court identify persons legally qualified to be summoned. The second phase involves summoning previously qualified persons to court for jury service. Have your summons letter nearby when logging in, as you will need your 9-digit participant number located near the barcode.

Reporting procedures and what happens on the day

It is critical to be on time when reporting for jury duty. The case cannot begin until all jurors are present. If you think you may be delayed, call the clerk's office immediately.

A typical jury day runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though your schedule will depend on the court's schedule. When reporting for the first-time orientation session, plan to arrive around 8:00 a.m., approximately one hour earlier than usual.

Conduct during proceedings matters. A few key rules to keep in mind:

• Do not discuss the case with anyone before the judge instructs you to, including family members, friends, or other jurors.
• If anyone tries to contact you or influence your decision, tell the judge or a court officer immediately.
• Do not chew gum or eat snacks during proceedings. Breaks will be provided.

Postponements, excusals, and disqualifications

If the month you have been summoned for is particularly inconvenient, you can request to have your service deferred to another month. A person who is not disqualified may be excused from jury service only upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity, or other cause the court deems appropriate. If excused, that person will be directed by the court to report again at a later time.

Automatic disqualification applies in certain circumstances. These include having moved out of the state or the county where you were asked to serve, having a permanent medical condition that would make service very difficult, or being a convicted felon. Difficulty speaking or understanding English is also grounds for disqualification. All requests are ruled on by a judge, and applicants will receive notification from the Jury Center.

Any person aged 70 or older who is selected as a juror may, at their discretion, inform the court prior to the convening of proceedings that they do not wish to serve.

Once you have completed service, your name will not be placed back on the master jury list for at least three years.

Your employer's obligations

Employers may not request that employees be excused from jury service. The "Protection of Juror's Employment Statute" under Title 28 U.S.C. Section 1875 prohibits an employer from interfering with a juror's service. The maximum civil penalty for an employer who retaliates against an employee serving on jury duty ranges from $1,000 to $5,000, in addition to potential community service.

Tracking the docket and attending hearings

The Sullivan County Superior Court daily docket, including dates and times of scheduled proceedings, is publicly viewable through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch website. Dockets are current as of 4:00 p.m. the prior day, so check the morning of any hearing to confirm nothing has shifted.

The majority of court proceedings are held in person, though parties in a case may file a motion to convert a scheduled in-person hearing to a WebEx hearing, which the judge will rule on. If a hearing is scheduled via WebEx, the public may join remotely. If it is scheduled as in-person, the public may observe on-site.

Members of the public who wish to attend a WebEx session must request access in advance. Access requests are made by emailing the court with the relevant case number, using the address listed for Sullivan Superior Court WebEx requests. Those email addresses are for access requests only and cannot be used to ask questions about a specific case. For case inquiries, call the information center at 1-855-212-1234.

Accessing court records

Sullivan County Court Records are public records, documents, files, and transcripts associated with court cases and dockets. Courts in Sullivan County maintain records on everything that occurs during the legal process, including records needed for future appeals.

Superior Court orders and decisions are available to the public. To obtain a court record, requesters can fill out a Record Search Request Form, either on paper or online, for a nominal fee depending on the volume of the request. Not every order appears online automatically. The decision to reproduce an order online is made by the trial judge or master who issued it, based on three criteria: the order addresses an issue of law, that issue has a possibility of recurrence, and the Superior Court has reached a final decision on it.

The Jury Center's direct line for jurors with questions is 1-855-212-1234, available between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Press 4 and ask to be transferred to the Jury Center. Understanding the full scope of the court's operations, from where to park on Sunapee Street to how to request a WebEx link, is what separates a stressful court date from a straightforward one.