United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
About This Court
The District of New Hampshire is a single-district federal court covering the entire state of New Hampshire, operating within the First Circuit. The court sits primarily in Concord, the state capital, and also holds sessions in other locations throughout the state as needed. As one of the smaller federal districts by population, it handles a relatively modest caseload compared to larger urban districts.
The district has jurisdiction over all federal civil and criminal matters arising within New Hampshire, including disputes involving federal law, cases between citizens of different states meeting the amount-in-controversy threshold, and federal criminal prosecutions brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire. The court also hears appeals from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire.
New Hampshire's geographic and demographic character shapes the court's docket, which includes matters related to the state's northern border with Canada, federal land use, and cases arising from its mix of urban centers and rural communities.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of New Hampshire.
Caseload
The court handles a relatively low volume of filings consistent with New Hampshire's population, with a mix of civil matters, federal criminal prosecutions, and cases involving border and immigration issues given the state's proximity to Canada.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice in the State of New Hampshire or obtain admission pro hac vice to appear before this court. Local rules set out specific requirements for admission to the district court bar.
Clerk's Office
55 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301
(603) 225-1423
Active Judges 5
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Barbadoro | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | Boston College Law School |
| Samantha Elliott | Joseph R. Biden | 2021 | Columbia Law School |
| Joseph Laplante | George W. Bush | 2007 | Georgetown University Law Center |
| Steven McAuliffe | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | Georgetown University Law Center |
| Landya McCafferty | Barack Obama | 2013 | Northeastern University School of Law |
Local Rules
173 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.