NEWS

Child advocates name Susan Ashley Judge of the Year

Nicole Anderson thetimes@fosters.com
Judge Susan Ashley, of Rochester Circuit Court, was recently named Judge of the Year by CASA. Photo by Shawn St.Hilaire/Fosters.com

ROCHESTER —Judge Susan Ashley, of Rochester Circuit Court, was recently chosen as Judge of the Year by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a nonprofit that provides volunteers who speak on behalf of children in legal cases of child abuse and neglect.

The Judge of the Year award highlights Ashley’s support for the organization through her kindness and fair courtroom decisions, as well as her unique habit of writing personal letters to CASA advocates.

“I was certainly surprised to receive the award, but incredibly touched that the folks at CASA thought of me,” Ashley said in a recent interview.

Speaking about her work in family courts, Ashley said at times hearing the stories of child abuse or neglect is difficult. But she said her job is also very meaningful — she finds satisfaction when a child and family can reunite and move forward in a positive manner.

Ashley has long worked within the Rochester court system, and in December 2013 she took over the reins of the Rochester Circuit Court from predecessor Judge Daniel Cappiello.

“(Judge Ashley) is very professional, compassionate yet stern," said David Wajda, associate clerk of the Rochester Circuit Court. "I believe she wants people to be respectful to one another, and she returns the favor.”

He added that Ashley is “very dynamic, pleasant, and great to work for.”

Carolyn Cote, CASA of New Hampshire’s director of communication, affirmed that Ashley is a perfect fit for the honor, and was chosen for many reasons, “not the least of which is her exemplary work in the courtroom — she is also very active outside the court, working to help establish protocols that are creating opportunities at better outcomes for children and teens."

It is apparent that Ashley has appreciated the presence of CASA advocates in her courtroom over the years. At the conclusion of cases involving child abuse or neglect, she has been known to write letters thanking and encouraging the CASA volunteer involved — an act of kindness that has not gone unnoticed.

“Being a CASA is not always an easy road, and it’s especially nice to hear from someone outside of the organization that the work they’ve poured their time, energy, and heart into was appreciated,” Cote stated in regard to Ashley’s letters.

Cote noted that there is a ceaseless demand for CASA volunteers, especially in Strafford County, with Rochester pegged as a specific area of need.

“One of the most frequent places we turn down cases is out of the Rochester Family Court, simply because we do not have enough volunteers in that area,” she stated.

Ashley, however, deflected praise back to CASA and its volunteers. She explained that the types of cases CASA guardians are involved in are confidential ones of abuse and neglect, so the public does not get the chance to witness the work of the volunteers.

CASA, a private nonprofit organization, provides children with Guardians ad Litem (GALs), volunteers who advocate on behalf of the children involved in cases of abuse or neglect. These volunteers stay assigned to each case until the child they are working with finds a safe, permanent home.

“CASA GAL’s are a group of wonderful and dedicated individuals who provide a great service to New Hampshire. Their benefit to the community, it is unsung, really,” Ashley stated. “I don’t think the public always has a clear understanding of the role of a CASA GAL: they are absolutely invaluable to the court system, and they’re the ones who should be recognized.”

Regardless, both Ashley and Wajda agree that having the CASA Judge of the Year award brought to the district court in Rochester reflects positively upon the city’s court system.

“It shows it’s a team approach — (Judge Ashley) wants to have the people who need service receive that service, and to support them to become a productive member (of society),” Wajda stated.

Ashley, in turn, believes the award reflects how dedicated the Rochester and Dover courts are to keeping our children safe, and ultimately, keeping families together. She added that each case is taken on individually, and is given the court’s full attention.

“I think, by CASA recognizing someone from the Rochester court, it shows that this is a court that is very sensitive to the difficulties that a family might go through, and that we are here to find solutions for these families,” Ashley stated.

According to Cote, CASA advocates on behalf of more than 1,000 children each year.

The Judge of the Year award was presented to Ashley on Wednesday, June 17, during the CASA of New Hampshire 26th annual celebration.

CASA of New Hampshire is always looking for more volunteers. Those wishing to volunteer must be at least 21 years old to apply. The application, along with further information, is available online at www.casanh.org/onlineapplication.

The Rochester Times editor Liz Markhlevskaya contributed to this report.