NH Superior Court Judge Rejects Plea of Rockingham County Attorney James Reams to Return to Work

On Thursday, Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Richard McNamara rejected the plea of suspended Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams to be immediately reinstated.  Reams’ attorney, Michael Ramsdell of Concord, NH, argued that New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster lacked the constitutional authority to suspend Reams, particularly since Reams has never been told the precise nature of the conduct which is under investigation by both state and federal authorities.   The only formal statement which has been forthcoming thus far is that the agencies are investigation managerial type problems in the County Attorney’s Office.  McNamara did order Reams’ attorney to file a Petition for Declaratory Judgment, and promised that an additional full hearing would be held before the end of December.   In the interim, Reams will remain under suspension, along with his Deputy Attorney General and a victim’s advocate.   http://www.unionleader.com/article/20131114/NEWS06/131119577