Left: New Hampshire Supreme Court Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi is sworn in by Governor Christopher Sununu on August 8, 2017 (WMUR). Right: Geno Marconi, port director, New Hampshire State Port Authority, during a briefing on state infrastructure projects at the New Hampshire Port Authority in Portsmouth, N.H., April 19, 2022 (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky).
A New Hampshire Supreme Court justice has submitted a plea in a case in which she was accused of using her political power to influence a criminal investigation into her husband.
State Supreme Court Associate Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi was convicted after pleading no contest to one count of criminal solicitation of misuse of position, a misdemeanor, state Attorney General John Formella announced in a press release on Tuesday. With a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is likely enough evidence to convict.
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The case in Merrimack County involved Marconi”s husband, Division of Ports and Harbors Director Geno Marconi, who was indicted in October 2024 on felony charges of tampering with witnesses and informants and falsifying physical evidence, as well as two misdemeanor counts each of violating the Driver Privacy Act and obstructing government administration.
State investigators allege that Anna Marconi arranged to meet with then-New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu in June 2024 to discuss the active grand jury investigation into her husband, expressing how it was affecting her “personally and as a member of the Supreme Court,” per the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
She is said to have told Sununu that the criminal investigation was a result of “personal, petty, and/or political biases,” that there was no merit to it, “and stated multiple times that the investigation needed to wrap up quickly.” According to state investigators, she also spoke about how the investigation “was preventing her from sitting on important cases pending or imminently pending before the Supreme Court.”
Formella was scathing in his evaluation of Anna Marconi’s actions.
“This is a sad and unfortunate case that reflects a serious breach of the public trust,” he wrote. “Justice Hantz Marconi was an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court when she arranged for a private meeting with the Governor and then sought to obtain special treatment regarding an active criminal investigation involving her husband.”
“That conduct was unlawful and unethical, and it undermines confidence in our criminal justice system. Today’s conviction holds her accountable under the law,” the state attorney general added.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Anna Marconi was originally indicted on several charges, including two felonies: attempt to commit improper influence and criminal solicitation of improper influence. She had been on administrative leave since July 2024.
Geno Marconi was put on leave from his position in April 2024. Bradley Cook, the chairman of the Division of Ports and Harbors Advisory Council, was also indicted — in his case, for felony perjury and two counts of misdemeanor false swearing.
Details about Geno Marconi’s case have not been released, but reporting from New Hampshire Public Radio from August 2024 states three people were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury about interactions between him and the Port Authority. Geno Marconi has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in Rockingham County court.
The long-tenured public servant has seen his fair share of controversy. In 2006, he was disciplined after a report issued by the state attorney general at the time concluded that Geno Marconi misused public funds, accepted illegal gifts, and used racist slurs. His annual salary was subsequently decreased by $5,000, and he was required to submit to monthly behavioral reviews.
Following the incident, he was reappointed to his position — though this came amid speculation that he was involved in drive-by shootings of witnesses against him.
Geno Marconi denied wrongdoing and was never charged with any crimes in the matter.
Anna Marconi, for her part, was appointed by Sununu to the bench of the state’s highest court in 2017. And while she has been ordered to pay a fine of $1,200 due to her misdemeanor conviction, she has no plans to step down.
“Justice Hantz Marconi is very comfortable that she has made the best decision for herself, her family, and the State of New Hampshire,” per a statement from her legal team obtained by the NH Journal. “She looks forward to getting back to work.”
Formella reiterated the importance of public trust and how “no one is above the law — not even a Justice of the Supreme Court.”
“Judges have special ethical responsibilities, including to obey the law; to promote public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary; to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety; and to not abuse the prestige of their office to advance the personal interest of themselves or others,” the attorney general wrote. “The State of New Hampshire takes seriously its responsibility to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability at every level of public service.”
Elura Nanos contributed to this report.
