Annual Membership Meeting at Portsmouth Public Library

Executive Director Devon Chaffee (left) moderating a panel of legal experts in a discussion about access to the courts and counsel in New Hampshire.  Seated are attorney Larry Vogelman, Randy Hawkes (NH Public Defender), Dennis Labbe (NH Legal Assistance) and UNH Professor Malcolm Smith.

On December 8^th, the NHCLU held its annual meeting at the Portsmouth Public Library.  Executive Director Devon Chaffee gave an update on the activities and progress of the NHCLU this year.  Her introduction was followed by the documentary film Defending Gideon which focused on the landmark 1963 Supreme Court case that resulted in the state guaranteeing indigent people the right to counsel in criminal cases.  The panelists talked in depth about about their varied professional experiences regarding poor people's access to counsel and the courts, both in criminal and civil cases.