Julie Introcaso Explained

Julie Ann Introcaso
Office:Circuit Court Judge
Term Start:August 22, 2012
Term End:February 16, 2021
Nominator:John Lynch
Predecessor:Vacancy
Office2:Disciplinary Counsel, New Hampshire Supreme Court
Term Start2:June 2011
Term End2:September 2012
Predecessor2:Jennifer Brooke Sargent
Successor2:Sara S. Greene
Office3:Deputy Clerk, Superior Court
Term Start3:2000
Term End3:2011
Birth Place:Rochester, New York, U.S.
Spouse:Attorney Anthony L. 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.[1] She resigned her position as a judge on February 16, 2021.[2] On February 25, 2022, she was disbarred from the practice of law.[3]

Early life, education and legal career

Julie Ann Introcaso (née Johnson) received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Bard College at Simon's Rock in 1985. She was 20 years of age. She received her Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from Boston University School of Law in 1988.

After graduating from law school, Introcaso pursued criminal defense work as a staff attorney at New Hampshire Public Defender, and later entered private practice in Manchester. From 2000 through 2011, she served as a Deputy Clerk of the New Hampshire Superior Court in Brentwood, New Hampshire (Rockingham County). In June 2011, she became Disciplinary Counsel for the New Hampshire Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline Office (ADO).

In May 1998, she was one of the five founding members of the New Hampshire Women's Bar Association.[4]

Introcaso served as Chair of the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice, the first public member to hold the position. She was also appointed public member of the New Hampshire Board of Speech-Language Pathology where she served until her appointment to judicial office.

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.[5] [6] [7] She was confirmed on August 22, 2012, by the state's Executive Council.[8]

Resignation

On February 16, 2021, Introcaso resigned her position as a New Hampshire Circuit Court judge. 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.[9]

Ethics

Between 2013 and 2018, Julie Introcaso appointed Attorney Kathleen Sternenberg, with whom Introcaso maintained a "long-standing close friendship",[10] as guardian ad litem in at least eight different family law cases. 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.[11] She was also ordered by the New Hampshire Supreme Court to cover the cost of the investigation into her conduct.[12]

Criminal case

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.[13] [14] [15] On February 11, 2021, prior to the scheduled hearing on the judicial conduct allegations against her, Introcaso was arrested as a result of the criminal investigation.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Introcaso was charged with two class B felony counts of falsifying physical evidence (NH Rev Stat § 641:6),[21] two class A misdemeanor counts of tampering with public records or information (NH Rev Stat § 641:7),[22] and one class A misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification (NH Rev Stat § 641:3).[23] 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. 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.

On November 15, 2021, Introcaso entered an Alford plea to two misdemeanor counts of tampering with public records and one misdemeanor count of submitting false statements, without admitting to the truth of the charges. She received a suspended 12-month jail sentence and 100 hours of community service. In his ruling, Judge Charles Temple noted that Introcaso's crimes "eviscerated" the public trust in family courts and the legal system generally.

Disbarment

On February 25, 2022, Introcaso did not contest a petition for her disbarment. Correspondingly, she was disbarred from the practice of law.[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: Hayward. Mark. February 11, 2021. Circuit Court judge arrested, charged with whiting out her mistake. New Hampshire Union Leader. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416133133/https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/circuit-court-judge-arrested-charged-with-whiting-out-her-mistake/article_9fb5a237-bd9a-5b14-999c-66a198a18c48.html. live.
  2. News: Hayward. Mark. February 17, 2021. Judge who allegedly altered document resigns in agreement reached with Judicial Conduct Committee. New Hampshire Union Leader. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416134005/https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/judge-who-allegedly-altered-document-resigns-in-agreement-reached-with-judicial-conduct-committee/article_bd3e8886-995b-50f3-886d-0725804bf07f.html. live.
  3. In the Matter of Julie A. Introcaso, Esquire . LD-2021-0001 . New Hampshire Supreme Court . February 25, 2022 . https://www.nhattyreg.org/assets/1646148928.pdf .
  4. Web site: Our History. live. 2021-04-16. New Hampshire Women's Bar Association. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416110505/https://nhwba.org/Our-History.
  5. News: Timmins. Annmarie. August 8, 2012. Lynch to nominate six judges. Concord Monitor. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416145032/https://www.concordmonitor.com/Archive/2012/08/999653004-999653005-12-CM. live.
  6. News: Lessard. Ryan. August 7, 2012. Gov Lynch to Nominate 6 Circuit Court Judges. New Hampshire Public Radio. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416145041/https://www.nhpr.org/post/gov-lynch-nominate-6-circuit-court-judges#stream/0. live.
  7. News: August 8, 2012. N.H. Gov. Lynch to nominate six judges to Circuit Court. The Portsmouth Herald. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416145032/https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20120808/news/208080376?template=ampart. live.
  8. Governor and Executive Council Minutes . Lynch . John .

    John Lynch (New Hampshire governor)

    . Burton . Raymond .

    Raymond S. Burton

    . St. Hilaire . Daniel . Sununu . Christopher .

    Chris Sununu

    . Wieczorek . Raymond .

    Raymond Wieczorek

    . Wheeler . David . August 22, 2012 . . . Governor and Executive Council Meeting . 2021-04-16 . 2021-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416133259/https://sos.nh.gov/media/cgipj0lg/august-22-2012.pdf . live.
  9. News: Grossmith. Pat. February 17, 2021. Judge Introcaso resigns from the bench, criminal case still pending. Manchester Ink Link. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419041253/https://manchesterinklink.com/judge-introcaso-resigns-from-the-bench-criminal-case-still-pending/. live.
  10. News: Grossmith. Pat. February 12, 2021. Sitting judge arrested on felony charges; faces hearing before Judicial Conduct Committee. Manchester Ink Link. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419041254/https://manchesterinklink.com/judge-charged-with-alleged-violations-of-judicial-code-of-conduct-hearing-set-for-feb-16/. live.
  11. News: Bookman. Todd. October 23, 2020. N.H. AG Investigating Circuit Court Judge for Allegedly Altering Records. New Hampshire Public Radio. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416154449/https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-ag-investigating-circuit-court-judge-allegedly-altering-records#stream/0. live.
  12. News: Hayward. Mark. April 21, 2021. New Hampshire sends $75K bill to judge who resigned over ethical issues. New Hampshire Union Leader. 2021-04-21. 2021-04-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421234428/https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/new-hampshire-sends-75k-bill-to-judge-who-resigned-over-ethical-issues/article_e0d2743a-6a92-5d79-8ba0-ad87655c272f.html. live.
  13. Giaquinto . Kate . October 22, 2020 . Investigation Into Conduct of Judge Julie A. Introcaso . . . 2021-04-16 . 2021-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419041249/https://www.doj.nh.gov/news/2020/20201022-judge-introcaso.htm . live.
  14. News: Hayward. Mark. October 22, 2020. Nashua judge under ethics, criminal investigation into using white out on court records. New Hampshire Union Leader. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416145717/https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/nashua-judge-under-ethics-criminal-investigation-into-using-white-out-on-court-records/article_6960a435-f63e-55bd-b9c0-5a7c7c07d33c.html. live.
  15. News: October 22, 2020. Judge investigated for possible falsification of evidence. Associated Press. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417230729/https://apnews.com/article/criminal-investigations-new-hampshire-crime-89d5f7eda4a13e994fb89978333bcb23. live.
  16. News: Klein. Asher. February 11, 2021. NH Judge Arrested for Allegedly Falsifying Documents, Lying About It. WBTS-CD. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416151949/https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/nh-judge-arrested-for-allegedly-falsifying-documents-lying-about-it/2300697/. live.
  17. News: Schinella. Tony. February 11, 2021. NH Judge Arrested On Falsifying Evidence, Records Charges. Patch. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416151947/https://patch.com/new-hampshire/nashua/nh-judge-arrested-falsifying-evidence-records-charges. live.
  18. Web site: April 22, 2021. Introcaso (NH) - Investigation Affidavit & Arrest Warrant. live. 2021-04-22. Third Party Mechanic. 2021-04-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422221120/https://3pmonline.com/new-records-released.
  19. Web site: Gilbert. Scott. February 11, 2021. State of New Hampshire Arrest Warrant. live. 2021-04-22. Third Party Mechanic. 2021-04-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422221121/https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/94876f57-dcb5-404d-b6e0-70b64d0da430/Introcaso%5BAffidavit_Arrest_Warrant%5D.pdf.
  20. News: Hayward. Mark. February 11, 2021. Circuit Court judge arrested, charged with whiting out her mistake. New Hampshire Union Leader. 2021-04-16. 2021-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416133133/https://www.unionleader.com/news/courts/circuit-court-judge-arrested-charged-with-whiting-out-her-mistake/article_9fb5a237-bd9a-5b14-999c-66a198a18c48.html. live.
  21. 2014 . RSA 641:6 . . Falsifying Physical Evidence . en . 2021-04-16 . 2021-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416094230/http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxii/641/641-6.htm . live .
  22. 2015 . RSA 641:7 . . Tampering With Public Records or Information . en . 2021-04-16 . 2021-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416095734/http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxii/641/641-7.htm . live .
  23. 2017 . RSA 641:3 . . Unsworn Falsification . en . 2021-04-16 . 2021-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416095734/http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxii/641/641-3.htm . live .
  24. In the Matter of Julie A. Introcaso, Esquire . LD-2021-0001 . New Hampshire Supreme Court . February 25, 2022 . https://www.nhattyreg.org/assets/1646148928.pdf .

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