*Please note: This article is a student blog written by a Kevin B. Harrington Student Ambassador. The Ambassador Program is a unique opportunity for Saint Anselm College students of any major to be involved in supporting the Institute's various events and activities. To learn more about our student ambassadors please visit the NHIOP website.
On March 9th, Saint Anselm College and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics welcomed Charles Temple, an Associate Justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court and Michael Iacopino J.D. to discuss the rule of law. These two esteemed law experts talked with students about the effect of political polarization on the courts, the different levels of court at both the state and federal level, and how they interact with the Constitution, everyday people, and those that work within the legal and criminal justice system.
Judge Temple and attorney Iacopino first told the audience of their backgrounds. Before serving on the Hillsborough County Superior Court South, Judge Temple was a law professor at University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law and worked at a law firm in Concord, New Hampshire. Attorney Iacopino discussed his work in the public defender program and at a private law firm in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Before taking questions from students, the two explained the different courts in New Hampshire and at the federal level. Judge Temple explained the role of superior courts and the New Hampshire Supreme Court, while attorney Iacopino examined the federal court system and the New Hampshire Circuit Court system.
When asked what level of court they would want to be on, Saint Anselm students’ answers varied. One student said he aspired to be on the United States Supreme Court because of its power and ability to influence the nation, while another student said he would pick the New Hampshire Superior Court due to its ability to impact the lives of everyday people.
The group also discussed the role of public opinion in the courtroom and its impact on the legal system. With his experience as a judge, a legal professor, and an attorney, Judge Temple explained the importance of transparency from many different perspectives. The group also discussed the judicial confirmation hearings, the advice and consent power of the United States Senate, and the steps it takes to become an attorney or a judge in New Hampshire.
At the end of the program, the future of the legal system in New Hampshire was discussed. Throughout the ninety-minute presentation, substance abuse issues and mental health were brought up by the presenters and the students as reasons why justice may not be served in an equal manner. Attorney Iacipoino and Judge Temple explained that this has led to the creation of a Drug and Mental Health court. Drug and Mental Health court has a much more relaxed atmosphere than a typical courtroom environment, and the goal is to solve the issues that need to be addressed without severely disrupting the individual’s life in a way that incarceration would.
This event was part of National Judicial Outreach Week and was sponsored in part by the New Hampshire Bar Foundation.
Related Links
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