State Court Administrator Christopher Keating explains to the Executive Council a plan to share W2 wage data with state courts to determine income eligibility for indigent defendants, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Ethan DeWitt/New Hampshire Bulletin)
As Republicans call for higher scrutiny of indigent defense counsel spending, the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security is exploring a new way to prove whether defendants are low-income: W2 forms.
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 AC@A@D2=[ s6A2CE>6?E @7 t>A=@J>6?E $64FC:EJ r@>>:DD:@?6C #:49 {2G6CD E@=5 E96 tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:= (65?6D52J[ H@F=5 :?G@=G6 E96 56A2CE>6?E D92C:?8 E96 DE2E6’D (a H286 52E2 H:E9 E96 4@FCED E@ 2==@H ;F586D E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 :?4@>6 @7 2 A6CD@? C6BF6DE:?8 2 7C66 2EE@C?6J] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“(6’C6 =@@<:?8 2E D@>6 :562D 2C@F?5 A:=@E:?8 E92E D@ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 DF446DD7F=[” {2G6CD D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 :562 4@>6D 2D #6AF3=:42? 6I64FE:G6 4@F?4:=@CD[ =65 3J y@9? $E6A96? @7 |2?496DE6C[ 92G6 C2:D65 4@?46C?D @G6C E96 2>@F?E E96 DE2E6 DA6?5D @? :?5:86?E 5676?D6] x? ~4E@36C[ E96 4@F?4:=k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6H92>AD9:C63F==6E:?]4@>^a_ad^`_^b_^42==:?8\7@C\D4CFE:?J\6I64FE:G6\4@F?4:=\9@=5D\FA\7F?5:?8\7@C\:?5:86?E\5676?D6\2EE@C?6JD^QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmG@E65 E@ 7C66K6k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmSd]d >:==:@? :? 7F?5:?8 E@ E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 yF5:4:2= r@F?4:= E@ A2J 7@C :?5:86?E 5676?D6 4@F?D6=] %96 4@F?4:= =2E6C G@E65 E@ C6DE@C6 2 D>2==6C A@CE:@? @7 E92E 7F?5:?8 — S`]d >:==:@? — 3FE C6BF6DE65 E92E E96 DJDE6> 36 C6G:6H65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 $:IE9 p>6?5>6?E @7 E96 &]$] r@?DE:EFE:@? 6DE23=:D96D E96 C:89E E@ 67764E:G6 4@F?D6=[ 2?5 E96 `cE9 p>6?5>6?E C6BF:C6D 2== DE2E6D E@ D64FC6 E92E C:89E — :?4=F5:?8 3J AC@G:5:?8 2EE@C?6JD E@ E9@D6 H9@ 42?’E 277@C5 E96>] x? }6H w2>AD9:C6[ E92E H@C< 72==D E@ E96 yF5:4:2= r@F?4:=[ H9:49 2AAC@G6D 23@FE ad[___ 2AA@:?E>6?ED @7 4@F?D6= 2 J62C] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmpk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=2H]D62EE=6F]65F^>65:2^D49@@=\@7\=2H^5@4F>6?ED^46?E6CD\2?5\:?DE:EFE6D^<@C6>2EDF\46?E6C^:?:E:2E:G6D\2?5\AC@;64ED^5676?56C\:?:E:2E:G6^epr0}wC6A@CE0`_ada_aa]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmadb\A286 C6G:6Hk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm3J E96 ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? $:IE9 p>6?5>6?E r6?E6C :? a_aa 7@F?5 E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6’D :?5:86?E 5676?D6 2EE@C?6JD 2C6 36=628F6C65 3J 9:89 42D6 =@25D 2?5 =@H 4@>A6?D2E:@?[ 5C:G:?8 >2?J 2H2J 2?5 4C62E:?8 >2;@C 324<=@8D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“pD >@C6 6IA6C:6?465 2EE@C?6JD =62G6 E96 DJDE6>[ E96 C6>2:?:?8 2EE@C?6JD 2C6 7@C465 E@ E2<6 @? 6G6? >@C6 42D6D[ 42FD:?8 2 4J4=6 @7 8C62E6C 7CFDEC2E:@? 2?5 3FC?@FE[ 2?5 :?5:86?E 5676?52?ED H2:E =@?86C 2?5 =@?86C E@ 92G6 2? 2EE@C?6J 2DD:8?65 E@ C6AC6D6?E[” E96 C6G:6H 4@?4=F565] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm$A62<:?8 (65?6D52J[ {2G6CD D2:5 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t>A=@J>6?E $64FC:EJ 92D DE2EFE@CJ 2FE9@C:K2E:@? E@ D92C6 E96 52E2[ 3FE E92E E96 56A2CE>6?E :D DE:== D@CE:?8 @FE 4@?7:56?E:2=:EJ BF6DE:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp?5 yF586 r9C:DE@A96C z62E:?8[ E96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@FCED]?9]8@G^?6HD\2?5\>65:2^DFAC6>6\4@FCE\2AA@:?ED\;F586\49C:DE@A96C\<62E:?8\?6H=J\4C62E65\C@=6\DE2E6\4@FCEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm7:CDE\2AA@:?E65k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmDE2E6 4@FCE 25>:?:DEC2E@C[ D2:5 E96 56A2CE>6?ED ?66565 E@ 3F:=5 “2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6” E@ 86E E96 :?7@C>2E:@? E@ 4@FCED BF:4<=J] $A665 :D 6DD6?E:2= E@ 2==@H 4C:>:?2= 42D6D E@ >@G6 29625 H:E9 2== A2CE:6D 256BF2E6=J C6AC6D6?E65[ z62E:?8 E@=5 E96 4@F?4:=] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%@ DFAA@CE E92E DA665[ E96 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 ;F5:4:2= 3C2?49 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 >2<:?8 E96 52E2 G6C:7:42E:@? C6EC@24E:G6 — 2==@H:?8 4@FCED E@ 2AAC@G6 4@FCE\2AA@:?E65 4@F?D6= 2?5 G6C:7J E96:C DE2EFD 27E6CH2C5[ z62E:?8 D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“(6 ?665 E@ 86E 8@:?8 @? E9:D[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D EC:4<J 3642FD6 E96 2AA@:?E>6?E @7 4@F?D6= AC@46DD 92AA6?D =:89E?:?8 72DE[ 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 :>A@CE2?E 4@?D:56C2E:@?D :?G@=G65 :? 86EE:?8 A6@A=6 2446DD E@ 4@F?D6= AC@>AE=J]” k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmz62E:?8 D2:5 E96 A:=@E AC@8C2> H@F=5 2DD6DD E96 677:4:6?4J @7 E96 G6C:7:42E:@? AC@46DD[ 2D H6== 2D :ED 4@DE\67764E:G6?6DD] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 $:IE9 p>6?5>6?E r6?E6C C6G:6H C2:D65 4@?46C?D E92E D@>6 A6@A=6 :? ?665 5@ ?@E C646:G6 E:>6=J 2446DD E@ 4@F?D6=] #6AF3=:42? 6I64FE:G6 4@F?4:=@CD D2J E96J 2C6 7@4FD:?8 DA64:7:42==J @? E9@D6 H9@ D9@F=5 ?@E C646:G6 :E] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm$E6A96?[ 2 7@C>6C 2DD:DE2?E 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= 2E E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46[ 92D AC2:D65 E96 AC@A@D2=] p?5 96 D@F89E E@ 4=2C:7J (65?6D52J E92E 96 :D ?@E 42==:?8 7@C E96 4@FCED E@ 42CCJ @FE 6I92FDE:G6[ :>AC24E:42= C6G:6HD — ?@C 7@C :?5:86?E 5676?52?ED E@ 36 56?:65 2 5676?D6] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“x’> ?@E E2=<:?8 23@FE :>A2:C:?8 … 7F?52>6?E2= 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89ED[” 96 D2:5] “qFE :7 H6 7:?5 E92E D@>6@?6 =:65[ x’== 4@>6 @FE @7 C6E:C6>6?E 2D 2 AC@D64FE@C] (6 ?665 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J’C6 96=5 244@F?E23=6[ 2?5 x 92G6?’E D66? E92E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=’D 7:D42= 7C66K6 =2DE J62C 92D AC@>AE65 E96 yF5:4:2= r@F?4:= 2?5 DE2E6 4@FCE DJDE6> E@ C6G:6H 4FCC6?E AC24E:46D] x? }@G6>36C[ E96 DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 4@?G6?65 2 E2D< 7@C46 =65 3J pDD@4:2E6 yFDE:46 |6=:DD2 r@F?EH2J E@ DEF5J E96 :DDF6j E92E E2D< 7@C46k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@FCED]?9]8@G^D:E6D^8^7:=6D^6936>Ecf`^7:=6D^:?=:?6\5@4F>6?ED^D@?9^?9;3\:?5:86?4J\G6C:7:42E:@?\E2D<\7@C46\7:?2=\C6A@CE]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm:DDF65 2 C6A@CEk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu63] `a]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 C6A@CE 7@F?5 E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6’D 4FCC6?E DJDE6> @7 7:?2?4:2= ?665 G6C:7:42E:@? G2C:6D 7C@> 4@FCE E@ 4@FCE] p?5 :E C64@>>6?565 E96 vC2?:E6 $E2E6 25@AE @3;64E:G6 DE2?52C5D[ C2E96C E92? DF3;64E:G6 DE2?52C5D[ E@ C6G:6H ?665] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“(9:=6 E96 W4FCC6?EX 7C2>6H@C< 6?DFC6D ;F5:4:2= @G6CD:89E 2?5 42D6\DA64:7:4 C6G:6H[ :E 5@6D ?@E :?4=F56 F?:7@C> 6=:8:3:=:EJ E9C6D9@=5D[ AC6DF>AE:G6 DE2?52C5D[ @C DE2?52C5:K65 G6C:7:42E:@? >6492?:D>D[” E96 C6A@CE 7@F?5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmrFCC6?E=J[ DE2E6 DE2EFE6 C6BF:C6D 4@FCED E@ AC@G:56 2? 2EE@C?6J E@ 2?J 5676?52?E H9@ :D “k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^CD2^9E>=^{x)^e_c\p^e_c\p\a]9E>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm7:?2?4:2==J F?23=6k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmE@ @3E2:? 4@F?D6=]” r@FCED 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 4@>A2C6 E96 5676?52?E’D :?4@>6 2?5 2DD6ED H:E9 E96 “k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^CD2^9E>=^{x)^e_c\p^e_c\p\a\4]9E>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm>:?:>F> 4@DEk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm” E@ 9:C6 2 BF2=:7:65 2EE@C?6J] p?J :?5:G:5F2= H9@ C6BF6DED DF49 2? 2EE@C?6J >FDE D:8? 2 7@C> 2EE6DE:?8 E@ E96:C :?23:=:EJ E@ 277@C5 @?6[ F?56C A6?2=EJ @7 A6C;FCJ] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp7E6C C646:G:?8 E92E C6BF6DE[ 4@FCED 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ >2<6 2 56E6C>:?2E:@? @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ H:E9:? ac 9@FCD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 E2D< 7@C46 C6A@CE] %92E 56E6C>:?2E:@? :D EJA:42==J >256 3J 4@FCE DE277 3FE @442D:@?2==J :?G@=G6D 2 ;F586]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 {68:D=2EFC6 @77:4:2==J C6A62=65 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p5>:?:DEC2E:G6 $6CG:46’D CF=6D 8F:5:?8 56E6C>:?2E:@?D :? a_ad[ 3FE[ =24<:?8 2?J C6A=246>6?E CF=6D[ >@DE 4@FCED 4@?E:?F6 E@ FD6 E96> 2D 8F:56=:?6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 E2D< 7@C46 C6A@CE] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 E2D< 7@C46 C6G:6H65 @E96C DE2E6D’ G6C:7:42E:@? AC24E:46D] |2?J DE2E6D 92G6 3F:=E 2 AC6DF>AE:@? E92E 2 5676?52?E :D 6=:8:3=6 :7 E96J 2C6 2=C625J C646:G:?8 DE2E6 @C 7656C2= AF3=:4 2DD:DE2?46] ~E96C DE2E6D[ =:<6 |2DD249FD6EED[ C6BF:C6 :?5:86?E 5676?52?ED E@ 28C66 E@ 2==@H E96:C E2I 2?5 H286 52E2 E@ 36 C6G:6H65 3J E96 4@FCE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx? E@E2=[ af DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 '6C>@?E 2?5 |2DD249FD6EED[ FD6 “@3;64E:G6 DE2?52C5D”j ?:?6 DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 }6H w2>AD9:C6[ FD6 “DF3;64E:G6 DE2?52C5D[” 2?5 `c DE2E6D 92G6 ?@ DE2?52C5D[ E96 E2D< 7@C46 DE2E65[ 4:E:?8 2?2=JD:D 3J E96 $:IE9 p>6?5>6?E r6?E6C] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 C6A@CE C64@>>6?5D E96 DE2E6 AC@G:56 AC6DF>AE:G6 6=:8:3:=:EJ E@ 5676?52?ED C646:G:?8 96=A 7C@> E96 %6>A@C2CJ pDD:DE2?46 7@C }665J u2>:=:6D AC@8C2>[ $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@?2= pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2>[ @C $FAA=6>6?E2CJ $64FC:EJ x?4@>6[ 2D H6== 2D E@ 2?J 5676?52?E =:G:?8 :? AF3=:4 9@FD:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmxE DF886DED E92E E96 C6BF6DE 7@C>D 36 D:>A=:7:65[ 2?5 E92E 4@FCED 2FE@>2E:42==J C6;64E 2== :?4@>A=6E6 C6BF6DED 7@C 4@F?D6=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp?5 :E 324<65 {2G6CD 2?5 z62E:?8’D DF886DE:@? @7 D92C:?8 H286 52E2[ H9:=6 42FE:@?:?8 E92E DF49 2 AC@8C2> D9@F=5 2==@H @?=J 2 =:>:E65 ?F>36C @7 4@FCE 6>A=@J66D E@ G:6H E92E 52E2[ 2?5 D9@F=5 C6BF:C6 E9@D6 6>A=@J66D E@ D:8? 4@?7:56?E:2=:EJ 2?5 FD6C 28C66>6?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“(6 C64@8?:K6 E92E @FC !F3=:4 s676?56CD 2?5 @E96C 4@FCE 2AA@:?E65 4@F?D6= 2C6 H@C<:?8 H:E9 962GJ 42D6=@25D[ 2?5 E92E :>AC@A6C 2AA@:?E>6?E @7 4@F?D6= 42? 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E92E :DDF6[” E96 C6A@CE 4@?4=F56D] “(6 36=:6G6 E92E DEC62>=:?:?8 @FC 4FCC6?E AC@46DD6D[ 25@AE:?8 2? @3;64E:G6 DE2?52C5 7@C BF2=:7:42E:@? 2?5 C6;64E:?8 :?4@>A=6E6 2AA=:42E:@?D H:== 36 2? :>A@CE2?E :?:E:2= DE6A :? :>AC@G:?8 E96 2AA@:?E>6?E @7 4@F?D6= AC@46DD]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmqFE 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 $:IE9 p>6?5>6?E r6?E6C[ @?6 @E96C :?8C65:6?E 4@F=5 :>AC@G6 E96 D:EF2E:@?i 7F?5:?8] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“pD 2 C6DF=E @7 :?256BF2E6 7F?5:?8 2?5 :?DF77:4:6?E DE277:?8 7@C E96 ;F5:4:2= 4@F?4:=[ E96 E2IA2J6CD 2?5 A@=:4J>2<6CD :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 5@ ?@E <?@H @? 2? @?8@:?8 32D:D 9@H >2?J 2EE@C?6JD 2C6 24EF2==J C6BF:C65 2?5 AC@G:565 E@ C6AC6D6?E :?5:86?E 5676?52?ED :? 2== E96 EC:2= 4@FCE =@42E:@?D :? E96 DE2E6[” :E DE2E65]k^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.