CONCORD — The New Hampshire Supreme Court has issued an order stating that Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi is on administrative leave with pay for a period of 90 days, which may be shortened or extended by further order of the court.
Av Harris, court spokesman, said there was no information available as to why the Supreme Court took this action.
“Justice Hantz Marconi is relieved of her judicial and administrative duties of the court,” wrote Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald in the order. Senior Associate Justice James Bassett, and Associate Justices Patrick Donovan and Melissa Countway concurred. It was dated Thursday, July 25.
In May, Hantz Marconi began recusing herself from cases involving the Attorney General’s Office. The spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office had no comment Friday.
Hantz Marconi’s husband, Geno Marconi, was placed on paid leave in April from his longtime post as director of the New Hampshire Division of Ports and Harbors, but the Pease Development Authority has provided no explanation why that action was taken or how long it will last.
Harris said the court normally doesn’t disclose the basis for recusals from cases, but Hantz Marconi did so in this case.
“Justice Hantz Marconi discloses that it is her understanding that the Office of the Attorney General is advising the Pease Development Authority with respect to her spouse’s work at the Division of Ports and Harbors,” Harris said previously.
Paul Brean, the executive director of the Pease Development Authority, released a statement in April confirming that Geno Marconi was on paid leave, but no further information has been made public.
“Director Marconi is on paid administrative leave for an undetermined period of time. Because of the confidentiality requirements of New Hampshire personnel laws, we cannot comment any further at this time,” Brean said.
According to its website, “The Division of Ports and Harbors maintains and develops New Hampshire’s vital waterways to help support and grow commerce including freight shipments through the state’s ports and the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor. We also assist in the development of salt water fisheries and related industries.”
A news release from the state Supreme Court said, “During the period of administrative leave, Justice Hantz Marconi will not have judicial or administrative duties at the court. The work of the Supreme Court will continue in accordance with standard procedures.
“The Supreme Court has reassigned Justice Hantz Marconi’s responsibilities in cases where she has participated to the other Supreme Court Justices and assigned Superior Court Judges as needed.
“In cases requiring Justice Hantz Marconi’s participation to achieve the requisite quorum of three Supreme Court Justices, alternate judges from the Superior Court will be selected at random to participate in those cases, in accordance with state statutes and long-standing Supreme Court procedures. Justice Hantz Marconi’s administrative duties will be reassigned,” the release said.
The clerk of the Supreme Court is in the process of notifying parties in pending cases.