NH Guardian Ad Litem Board Finds That Attorney And GAL Lenora Bohem Violated GAL Rules – Six Month Suspension Issued

Our blog received an email that NH Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem Lenora Bohem was suspended by the GAL Board for misconduct.  In looking into the matter we found the following which is an excerpt from the GAL report.  The whole report can be viewed by clicking on Boehm-Lenora-sept2010. 

The Board has found that Ms. Boehm has violated Gal 503.16 (a) by failing to disclose disciplinary actions imposed by the NH Supreme Court’s Professional Conduct Committee in her application and supporting affidavit.

NH Guardian Ad Litem May Have Issues With Children – Did The NH Guardian Ad Litem Board Conduct A Proper Background Check On Tracy A Bernson Prior To Appointing Her

Through public information, this blog was able to get some disturbing information on what appears to be public postings by NH Guardian Ad Litem and Attorney Tracy A. Bernson.  Although this information has not been confirmed by contacting Tracy A. Bernson, she appears to be the author.  We will point out the facts and let you decide. 

This information was easily obtained online through public sources which would leave one asking the following question.  Does the NH Guardian Ad Litem Board conduct background checks on their GAL applicants. 

Below is a post from a chat room and the author appears to be Tracy Bernson.  The post is dated March 12, 2000.  Through Tracy A. Bernson’s own website, this blog was able to confirm that she was attending Syracuse University at that time.  The full email address that appears on the post if you click on her name is:

tabernso@mailbox.syr.edu

In doing our research, it appears that the ending “mailbox.syr.edu” is a Syracuse University email ending.  According to a reliable source, Syracuse University email address’s use eight characters.  They begin with the person’s initial of their first name, the initial of their middle initial and then their last name.  The email address can only be eight letters long so once your combined characters are eight characters long, the email name ends.  In other words, if your name was John Jacob Jingleheimerschmidt your email address would be “jjjingle@mailbox.syr.edu” hence it stands to reason that tabernson@mailbox.syr.edu is the mailbox of Tracy A. Bernson.  

NH Guardian Ad Litem Board Looking To Hire Investigator To Investigate Complaints Against GAL's

Original Posting Can Be Viewed At The Following Link http://www.nh.gov/gal/documents/investigator-rfp.pdf

State of New Hampshire

Guardian ad Litem Board

25 Capitol Street - Room 120, Concord, New Hampshire 03301 Phone: (603) 271-1199

TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 Fax: (603) 271-5440

Web site: www.nh.gov/gal E-mail: gal.board@nh.gov

Request for Services

Investigator

Date:

April 4, 2011

Contact Person: Katherine Harmon, GAL Board Secretary

25 Capitol Street – Room 120

Concord, New Hampshire 03301

(603) 271-1199 gal.board@nh.gov

Services Contract Overview

The New Hampshire Guardian ad Litem Board is seeking up to two (2) independent investigators to investigate complaints made against Guardian ad Litems.

The investigators may be an individual or a firm. The service contract is not to exceed $15,000 for labor support. The service contract does not include tax withholding, benefits of any kind, or operations reimbursement costs. Bids will reflect a per hour cost and may include mileage reimbursement.

The Guardian ad Litem Board makes no guarantees as to the number of cases we will refer.

The contract will be for two (2) years, renewable with both parties agreement for another two (2) years. The Board shall have the right to terminate the contract at any time by giving the Contractor a thirty (30) day written notice.

The contract is expected to begin

September 1, 2011, ending August 31, 2013.

Applications are due by 2:30 p.m. EST on

 

The Guardian ad Litem Board was established with the responsibility to oversee the credentialing, activities, and discipline of guardians’ ad litem in New Hampshire. The Guardian ad Litem Board, established by RSA 490-C, currently consists of nine members who are New Hampshire residents and serve without compensation. The term "guardian ad litem" ("GAL") is generally understood to refer to a person appointed by a court to represent the best interest of an individual (usually a child or incompetent adult) in any proceeding where a court deems it necessary to appoint such a person. The nature of a GAL's activity may vary from case to case. Generally a GAL performs those functions deemed necessary under the terms of as particular court's appointment. The appointment might, for example, include a requirement that a GAL make recommendations to the court about what is in the best interest of a recipient of services. A GAL is not appointed to serve as a person's attorney and not all GALs are lawyers. Similarly a GAL is not a general "guardian" appointed to handle the affairs of another.

January 13, 2011 - NH Legislative Public Input session scheduled on 11:00 HB 81, public members of the guardian ad litem board and 1:15 HB 52, modification of parental rights and responsibilities

There is a scheduled NH Legislative Public Input session coming up on two important 2011 Bills. 

Public Input on these two bills has been scheduled for next Thursday January 13 at the Concord LOB Room 206. If you are unable to attend, please provide written testimony on each of these topics to the Children & Family Law Committee at CFL@leg.state.nh.us


The two bills can be viewed at the following links:


1:15 HB 52 modification of parental rights and responsibilities

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/billtext.aspx?billnumber=HB0052.html

11:00 HB 81 public members of the guardian ad litem board.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/billtext.aspx?billnumber=HB0081.html