Julie Introcaso

Julie A. Introcaso (born 1964) is a former judge of the New Hampshire Circuit Court. She was arrested on February 11, 2021, on two felony charges of falsifying physical evidence, two misdemeanor charges of tampering with public records, and a misdemeanor charge of unsworn falsification.[3][4] She resigned her position as a judge on February 16, 2021.[5][6][7]

Julie A. Introcaso
Circuit Court Judge, Nashua, New Hampshire
In office
August 22, 2012 – February 16, 2021
Nominated byJohn Lynch
Preceded byVacancy
Disciplinary Counsel, New Hampshire Supreme Court Attorney Discipline Office
In office
June 2011 – September 2012
Preceded byJennifer Brooke Sargent[1]
Succeeded bySara S. Greene[2]
Deputy Clerk, Rockingham Superior Court
In office
2000–2011
Personal details
Born1964 (age 57–58)
NationalityAmerican

Early life and career

Julie Introcaso received her bachelor's degree from Bard College at Simon's Rock in 1985.[8][9] She received her law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1988.[8][10][11] After graduating from law school, Introcaso served as a public defender, and later entered private practice.[8][10][11] In May 1998, she was one of the five founding members of the New Hampshire Women's Bar Association.[10][12] From 2000 through 2011, she was deputy clerk of the Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood, New Hampshire.[3][10][11] In June 2011, she became Disciplinary Counsel for the New Hampshire Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline Office (ADO).[1][9]

New Hampshire Circuit Court judge

Julie Introcaso was nominated on August 8, 2012, by New Hampshire Governor John Lynch to serve on the state's Circuit Court.[8][13][14][15] She was confirmed on August 22, 2012, by the state's Executive Council.[16][9]

Conflict of interest

Between 2013 and 2018, Julie Introcaso appointed Attorney Kathleen Sternenberg, with whom Introcaso maintained a "long-standing close friendship",[17] as Guardian ad Litem in at least eight different family law cases.[18] In October 2020, the New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee announced it was bringing forward a disciplinary matter against Introcaso for failing to recuse herself, and alleged that Introcaso committed judicial misconduct.[19][20]

Investigation and arrest

In October 2020, the Office of the New Hampshire Attorney General opened a criminal investigation into Introcaso's conduct, and alleged that Introcaso altered court paperwork with white out while she was being investigated by the New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee.[21][22][23] On February 11, 2021, Introcaso was arrested as a consequence of the criminal investigation.[3][24][25][26][27] She was also ordered by the New Hampshire Supreme Court to pay $74,900 to cover the cost of an investigation into her conduct.[28]

Resignation

On February 16, 2021, Introcaso resigned her position as a New Hampshire Circuit Court judge.[5][7] She also entered into a Stipulation and Agreement with the New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee that she had violated a number of provisions of the New Hampshire Code of Judicial Conduct.[5][29]

Criminal charges

Introcaso has been charged with two class B felony counts of falsifying physical evidence (NH Rev Stat § 641:6),[30] two class A misdemeanor counts of tampering with public records or information (NH Rev Stat § 641:7),[31] and one class A misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification (NH Rev Stat § 641:3).[32] On March 17, 2021, the New Hampshire Supreme Court received a filing from the New Hampshire Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline Office (ADO) which included copies of the criminal complaints.[33] On March 24, 2021, Introcaso was immediately suspended from the practice of law in New Hampshire on a temporary basis pending further order of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.[33] On November 15, 2021, Introcaso pled guilty to two counts of tampering with public records and one count of submitting false statements.[34] She received a suspended 12 month jail sentence and 100 hours of community service.[2] In his ruling, Judge Charles Temple noted that Introcaso's crimes "eviscerated" the public trust in family courts and the legal system generally.[34]

References
  1. 2011 Annual Report (PDF), New Hampshire Supreme Court Attorney Discipline System, 2011, p. 2, archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-27, retrieved 2021-04-16
  2. 2012 Annual Report (PDF), New Hampshire Supreme Court Attorney Discipline System, 2012, p. 3, archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-27, retrieved 2021-04-16
  3. Giaquinto, Kate; Ward, Geoffrey (February 11, 2021). "Arrest of Circuit Court Judge Julie A. Introcaso" (Press release). Office of the Attorney General. New Hampshire Department of Justice. Archived from the original on 2021-03-28. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  4. Hayward, Mark (February 11, 2021). "Circuit Court judge arrested, charged with whiting out her mistake". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  5. Delker, Neals-Erik William; Introcaso, Julie; Waystack, Philip (February 16, 2021), Stipulation and Agreement (PDF), State of New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee, archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-16, retrieved 2021-04-16
  6. Hayward, Mark (February 17, 2021). "Judge who allegedly altered document resigns in agreement reached with Judicial Conduct Committee". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  7. "Judge who allegedly altered court paperwork resigns". Associated Press. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  8. "Governor Lynch to Nominate Six to the Circuit Court" (Press release). Communications Director. Office of the Governor. August 7, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  9. O'Connor, Ryan (August 22, 2012). "Bedford Man One of Six Confirmed for State Circuit Courts". Patch. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  10. Kiernan, Laura (April 28, 2004). "Deputy Clerk Introcaso Attends Court Technology Conference" (Press release). Court Public Information Office. New Hampshire State Courts. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  11. Hayward, Mark (February 12, 2021). "Judge charged with coverup no longer getting paycheck". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  12. "Our History". New Hampshire Women's Bar Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  13. Timmins, Annmarie (August 8, 2012). "Lynch to nominate six judges". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  14. Lessard, Ryan (August 7, 2012). "Gov Lynch to Nominate 6 Circuit Court Judges". New Hampshire Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  15. "N.H. Gov. Lynch to nominate six judges to Circuit Court". The Portsmouth Herald. August 8, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  16. Lynch, John; Burton, Raymond; St. Hilaire, Daniel; Sununu, Christopher; Wieczorek, Raymond; Wheeler, David (August 22, 2012). Governor and Executive Council Minutes (PDF). Governor and Executive Council Meeting. Nashua Community College: New Hampshire Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  17. Grossmith, Pat (February 12, 2021). "Sitting judge arrested on felony charges; faces hearing before Judicial Conduct Committee". Manchester Ink Link. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  18. Collins, Mary (February 19, 2021), Summary Report of Proceedings, Findings and Recommendations Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 40(12)(d) (PDF), State of New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee, p. 6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-16, retrieved 2021-04-16, The exhibits submitted by the JCC hearing counsel and stipulated to by Introcaso now show that between 2013 and 2018 Introcaso appointed (or approved marital master recommendations to appoint) Sternenberg in at least eight cases prior to the Partello matter. JCC Ex. 37.
  19. Waystack, Philip; Collins, Mary (October 14, 2020), Statement of Formal Charges Pursuant to New Hampshire Supreme Court Rule 40(9) (PDF), State of New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee, p. 6, archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-16, retrieved 2021-04-16
  20. Bookman, Todd (October 23, 2020). "N.H. AG Investigating Circuit Court Judge for Allegedly Altering Records". New Hampshire Public Radio. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  21. Giaquinto, Kate (October 22, 2020). "Investigation Into Conduct of Judge Julie A. Introcaso" (Press release). Office of the Attorney General. New Hampshire Department of Justice. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  22. Hayward, Mark (October 22, 2020). "Nashua judge under ethics, criminal investigation into using white out on court records". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  23. "Judge investigated for possible falsification of evidence". Associated Press. October 22, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  24. Klein, Asher (February 11, 2021). "NH Judge Arrested for Allegedly Falsifying Documents, Lying About It". WBTS-CD. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  25. Schinella, Tony (February 11, 2021). "NH Judge Arrested On Falsifying Evidence, Records Charges". Patch. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  26. "Introcaso (NH) - Investigation Affidavit & Arrest Warrant". Third Party Mechanic. April 22, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  27. Gilbert, Scott (February 11, 2021). "State of New Hampshire Arrest Warrant" (PDF). Third Party Mechanic. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  28. Hayward, Mark (April 21, 2021). "New Hampshire sends $75K bill to judge who resigned over ethical issues". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  29. Grossmith, Pat (February 17, 2021). "Judge Introcaso resigns from the bench, criminal case still pending". Manchester Ink Link. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  30. "Falsifying Physical Evidence". RSA 641:6,  of 2014. New Hampshire General Court. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  31. "Tampering With Public Records or Information". RSA 641:7,  of 2015. New Hampshire General Court. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  32. "Unsworn Falsification". RSA 641:3,  of 2017. New Hampshire General Court. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  33. In the Matter of Julie A. Introcaso, Esquire (New Hampshire Supreme Court March 24, 2021).Text
  34. "A former N.H. judge pleads guilty to tampering with case files; given a suspended sentence". New Hampshire Public Radio. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
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