New Hampshire Tests Lawyer Eligibility

New Hampshire’s courts are testing a bold new pilot: using employers’ wage data to verify whether defendants truly can’t afford a lawyer—because the old system relied solely on self-reported income. With public defenders stretched thin and defense costs rising, this collaboration with the state’s Employment Security agency aims to catch dishonest claims and ensure resources go to those who genuinely need them. Starting small at two courthouses, just four staff will access confidential wage records to cross-check financial disclosures—testing whether this new layer of scrutiny can fix a broken system and uphold constitutional rights without wasting taxpayer dollars. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/564de26ac12fdded