New Hampshire Supreme Court justice and husband both indicted on felony charges

By 
 October 20, 2024

Seacoastonline reported that New Hampshire Ports and Harbors director Geno Marconi was indicted late last week on criminal charges.

Marconi's indictment came just one day after his wife, state Supreme Court Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi, was hit with charges of her own. 

Port director facing felony and misdemeanor charges

According to Seacoastonline, Mr. Marconi stands accused of tampering with witnesses and informants and falsifying physical evidence, both of which are Class B felonies.

His indictment also alleges two Class A misdemeanor counts each of violating the Driver Privacy Act and obstructing government administration.

Marconi is said to have provided confidential motor vehicle records to an unauthorized person as well as deleted voicemails despite knowing an investigation had been opened.

Also named in the indictment was Bradley Cook, who serves as chairman of the state Ports and Harbors Advisory Council. Cook faces two Class B felony charges of perjury along with two Class A misdemeanor counts of false swearing.

Seacoastonline noted that Class B felonies can be punished by a prison sentence of between three and a half and seven years and a fine of up $4,000. Meanwhile, Class A misdemeanors can bring up to one year behind bars as well as a $200 fine.

State Supreme Court justice accused of trying to influence governor

For her part, Justice Hantz Marconi has been indicted on two felonies and five misdemeanor charges, all of which concern alleged interference in her husband's investigation.

Specifically, Hantz Marconi is accused of asking New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu to misuse his authority on her husband's behalf.

Sununu nominated Hantz Marconi to New Hampshire's highest judicial body in June of 2017 and celebrated her confirmation two months later.

The state Supreme Court issued an order in July which put Hantz Marconi on paid administrative leave for a period of 90 days.

State attorney general: "No person is above the law"

"No person is above the law, and the evidence in this case required investigation and presentation to the grand jury," New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella was quoted as saying in a statement last Wednesday.

"The decision to charge a sitting justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court was not made lightly, and it comes after careful and thoughtful deliberation," he continued.

"It is my hope that the public will be reassured that all individuals, including public officials, are treated equally under the law," the state attorney general went on to add.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson