CCJ Directory

Tina Nadeau was appointed Associate Justice to the New Hampshire Superior Court in 1996, and in 2011, was appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court. Justice Nadeau received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1985, and she received her law degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in 1989. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Nadeau served as legal counsel to former Governor Steve Merrill from 1992 through 1996. She began her legal career in 1989 as an assistant attorney general in the homicide division.

In 2013, Justice Nadeau received the Caroline Gross Fellowship Award to attend the Kennedy School of Government program on Executive Leadership; the 2013 Eric Cogswell Achievement award, recognizing commitment to addressing the over incarceration of offenders with mental illness; and, she was the 2013 recipient of the Marillia Ricker Award, presented by the NH Bar to Women in Leadership positions. In 2015, she received the Advocacy award from New Futures and the Wheelok-Nardi award from Greater Manchester Mental health for her work advocating for those with mental health and substance abuse issues. In 2016 she was awarded the Kathleen Taylor Legislator Award from the NH Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling Association. In 2017 Justice Nadeau received the Leadership Award from the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Justice Nadeau is currently a board member of the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals, and New Futures, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce substance abuse. She is also a faculty member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

In 2006, Justice Nadeau spearheaded the effort to open a drug court docket in Rockingham County Superior Court and presided as the drug court judge for four years. At the time, there were three operating drug courts in New Hampshire. Once she became Chief Justice, she secured federal funding for drug courts in two additional counties. Under Justice Nadeau’s leadership, a total of ten drug courts are up and running in New Hampshire. In 2016, Justice Nadeau worked with legislators to pass legislation for statewide funding of drug court in New Hampshire. As part of the statewide legislation, Justice Nadeau has hired a statewide coordinator and is working with all the counties to ensure they are complying with the National Standards for Adult Drug Courts. As Chief Justice, she continues to cover for other drug court judges at least once per month.