Legal Briefs: News From Around NH

Cloud-based child support system launched in NH

Conduent Inc.’s advanced cloud-based system has been implemented by the NH Department of Health and Human Services to process child support payments. The company said the new system, which supports over 31,000 families, adds automated processes for the department’s State Disbursement Unit (SDU) and makes disbursements more quickly and efficiently. The SDU securely receives and distributes child support payments via various methods like debit cards, electronic deposits or checks.

Conduent said the system provides an improved user interface and includes features that enable payments via PayPal while laying the foundation for digital payment options such as Venmo, Google Pay and Apple Pay. The project is part of a 10-year contract renewal. Conduent has supported the state’s child support program since 1998.

Edwards nominated for judgeship

Anne Edwards

Gov. Chris Sununu has nominated Associate Attorney General Anne M. Edwards of Milford to be a Superior Court judge.

Edwards has 33 years of experience in the law and has been a longtime member of the staff at the Department of Justice.

A public hearing on her nomination will likely be held within the next few weeks before the Executive Council meeting on May 3, when they could vote on confirmation.

Oral arguments set for gerrymandering challenge

New Hampshire voters claiming the Executive Council and State Senate districts were unconstitutionally and unlawfully gerrymandered will have their day before the Supreme Court May 11.

The case Brown vs. Scanlan was dismissed by a Superior Court judge late last year, and appealed to the Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs – a group of New Hampshire voters, including former House Speaker Terie Norelli and the National Redistricting Foundation, filed a brief last week claiming the state did not address their arguments, cherry-picked and misrepresented case law, and manufactured hypothetical issues to “shadowbox,” before the court.

The state’s brief claims the plaintiffs have not proven the issue should be before the court, and in similar cases has been turned down by other courts.

From left, Laura Gandia, Graeme Brown, Richard Schoepke. (Photo by Anita Wolcott)

Three attorneys join Devine Millimet

The Manchester-based law firm of Devine Millimet has added three corporate of counsel attorneys to the firm. They are:

Richard J. Schoepke, who has extensive knowledge of estate planning, including wills, trusts, power of attorneys and more.

Laura J. Gandia, a member of the firm’s real estate team. She specializes in complex planning and zoning issues, municipal government affairs and land use.

Graeme S.R. Brown, who has expertise in acquisitions, business financing and commercial real estate.