CLAREMONT — The New Hampshire Judicial Branch, which operates the state’s courts, is inviting all members of the public to a “listening session” in Claremont on Thursday afternoon to hear about people’s experiences with the court system.

The goal of the listening session, part of the Judicial Branch’s diversity and inclusion initiative, “is to get as much public feedback as possible from those who have had experiences with the courts in New Hampshire, find out how we are doing and what we might need to improve,” Judge Daniel Swegart of the 5th Circuit Court in Newport, said in a news release announcing the event.

“This is a rare and valuable opportunity for us with the court to hear directly from the public. These conversations are necessary to make sure that we are considering the needs of all people and communities in order to fulfill our constitutional mandate to provide equal justice and equal access to justice for all,” Swegart explained.  

Swegart and other judges as well as court personnel will be on hand at the session, at which attendees “can expect opportunities to share feedback with court personnel in an open forum,” the Judiciary Branch said.

Information gathered will be integrated into goals for increasing diversity and inclusion in the state’s court operations and used to develop action plans to accomplish those goals.

The Claremont session is the fourth in a series the Judicial Branch has been holding around the state under its diversity and inclusion initiative, following sessions in Berlin, Manchester and Nashua. 

The event will take place in the downstairs community room at Claremont Savings Bank located at 145 Broad Street in Claremont from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.