Shout Out: Talesha Saint-Marc
As a New Hampshire native and attorney for more than a decade, Talesha Saint-Marc knows the state and federal judiciary needs more diversity in the courtroom and on the bench.
When the Bernstein Shur attorney was recently notified that she was chosen to serve as a federal magistrate judge in New Hampshire, she was overjoyed.
Saint-Marc also made history as the first African American to serve on the federal bench in New Hampshire.
“I am excited for that and excited for New Hampshire for taking that step,” adds Saint-Marc. “As a Black woman in New Hampshire, there are not many diverse lawyers in New Hampshire, No. 1, and certainly not many diverse judges in New Hampshire federally or in our state court.”
She hopes that her appointment will inspire other diverse lawyers to serve as judges, because it will make the state’s judiciary system much stronger.
“I always knew at some point in my career I would like to become a judge, and I am excited it is happening at this point
in my career, early on,” says Saint-Marc. “I always felt I had the temperament to be a judge.”
Saint-Marc is originally from Nashua and grew up in Merrimack and Litchfield. She lives in Manchester with her husband, Joseph Ricardo, and their four children.
Saint-Marc is a Franklin Pierce College graduate and studied law at Northeastern University. She is also a shareholder at Bernstein Shur and focuses on labor and employment law.
When asked what it takes to be a good judge, Saint-Marc says it begins with practicing law. “Being a good lawyer, you have to really master those skills.”
Saint-Marc is expected to begin serving in the role in June.
This article is featured in the spring-summer 2023 issue of 603 Diversity.
603 Diversity’s mission is to educate readers of all backgrounds about the exciting accomplishments and cultural contributions of the state’s diverse communities, as well as the challenges faced and support needed by those communities to continue to grow and thrive in the Granite State.
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