Belknap County Superior Court

Is your case in the Belknap County Superior Court in Laconia, NH?

This Court is located in downtown Laconia, next-door to the 4th Circuit - District Division- Laconia Court where misdemeanors and motor vehicle violations are prosecuted. The Belknap County Superior Court handles felony cases, and related misdemeanor charges, brought by the City of Laconia, the State Police, and the towns of:

  • Meredith
  • New Hampton
  • Gilford
  • Belmont
  • Alton
  • Gilmanton
  • Center Harbor
  • Barnstead

Criminal defense attorneys Ted Lothstein and Richard Guerriero appear in this Court to handle felony criminal cases. We have handled cases originating from every single one of these cities and towns.

In July, 2016, the so-called "Felonies First" law began to apply in Belknap County Superior Court. Under this law, felonies are prosecuted in Superior Court in the first instance, rather than going through a local court first. This deprived many defendants of their right to a 'probable cause hearing' early in the proceedings to determine whether the prosecution has any merit whatsoever. Fortunately, the law was repealed, effective January 1, 2024.

The Meadowbrook Arena

Recently, Attorney Lothstein handled a felony drug possession case that arose out of a detention and seizure at the Bank of NH Pavilion in Gilford, formerly know as the "Meadowbrook" arena. Be advised that this concert venue is a dangerous trap for recreational drug users.

In most concert venues in the northeast United States, if a security guard at the front gate catches someone with a little weed, etc., the drugs are confiscated and the person might get denied entry into the show.

At the Meadowbrook, they detain you until the police arrived, and then you get prosecuted for a felony in the "Felonies First" track in Belknap County Superior Court. And, they do this after luring customers in from throughout northern New England, to shows that are associated with recreational drug use, such as the 2016 Pretty Lights tour (a rave concert).

Welcome to New Hampshire -our motto used to be "Live Free or Die" but nowadays its more like: "NH: Arrive on vacation, leave on probation!"