New Hampshire Attorney General Joe Foster has appealed to the state Supreme Court that he in fact had the authority to strip suspended Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams of his prosecutorial authority.
The appeal comes less than two weeks after a Merrimack County Superior Court judge ruled that the continued suspension of Reams is illegal and ordered his reinstatement.
In addition to the appeal, Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice says efforts will continue to remove Reams from his job.
“We and the Rockingham County Commissioners have filed a motion for an expedited hearing on the petition to remove Attorney Reams as County Attorney.”
That petition was filed in Merrimack County Superior Court and Rice says the court’s schedule will determine when that motion will be heard.
Foster suspended Reams from his job in November.
The attorney general’s office says its investigation into Reams revealed allegations of ethical violations, financial mismanagement, and gender discrimination.
However, no criminal charges have been filed, which is precisely why the Superior Court judge ordered he be reinstated.
