A New Hampshire Supreme Court justice was suspended after a criminal investigation was opened regarding allegations that she influenced a criminal case that was lodged against her husband.

However, according to JustTheNews, Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi will be able to return to the bench without problem after a panel found that she did not commit a "serious crime" that would otherwise cost her her robe and career.

Justice Marconi pleaded "no contest" to misdeameanor charge "for trying to influence a criminal case against her husband."

She was suspended while the investigation was ongoing, which is standard procedure at her level in the court system. A panel of judges decided she hadn't violated any serious statutes.

What's going on?

The ruling, which was presumably a massive relief for Marconi, will allow her to return to the bench and continue to practice law and hear cases at the state's Supreme Court level.

JustTheNews noted:

Hantz Marconi was indicted in October on two class B felonies and five misdemeanors for allegedly interfering with the criminal investigation of her husband, Geno Marconi, former director of the New Hampshire Port Authority, who was indicted on separate charges. She was also charged with five misdemeanors, including criminal solicitation and obstructing government administration. Her trial was set to get underway next month.

The embattled justice accepted a plea deal, which resulted in being charged with single count of criminal solicitation related to the misuse of her position. As part of the deal, she admitted no wrongdoing.

The single charge she ended up with carries a $1,200 fine and no jail time, allowing her to continue her law career without much of a problem.

That charge was described as "outside of the definition of serious crime," which was a huge break for her, career wise.

Her husband, however, faces significantly more serious charges, including "two felonies alleging witness tampering and falsifying evidence," along with several misdemeanors.

The charges

According to prosecutors, Mr. Marconi allegedly "provided confidential motor vehicle records to another person and attempted to conceal the illegal activity by deleting voicemails."

There were other officials involved in the situation as well, including Bradley Joseph Cook, chairman of the Division of Ports and Harbors Advisory Council.

Attorney General John Formell described the justice's behavior as "unethical."

However, it doesn't seem to matter at this point, as her return will be short-lived, since she turns 70 soon -- the mandatory retirement age for New Hampshire Supreme Court justices.