---
title: "David W. Ruoff | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-w-ruoff-nh-trial"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# David W. Ruoff

New Hampshire Superior Court · Superior Court Justice

## Profile

- Court: New Hampshire Superior Court
- State: New Hampshire
- Role: Superior Court Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court, appointed in 2016, with a career in public defense, state prosecution, and private litigation
- Partner, Howard & Ruoff, PLLC; until 2016
- Public defender; assistant attorney general; partner, Howard & Ruoff
- Private Practice: Partner at Howard & Ruoff, PLLC in Manchester
- Associate Justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court, with current assignments in Rockingham County and prior service in Cheshire County
- Public Service: Former Staff Attorney for the New Hampshire Public Defender and Assistant Attorney General with the NH Department of Justice

### Education

- undergraduate degree — University of New Hampshire
- David W. Ruoff studied at the University of New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce Law Center.

### Additional information

- focusing on criminal and civil litigation
- Gubernatorial nomination with Executive Council confirmation
- Listed among the active justices of the New Hampshire Judicial Branch
- Before becoming a lawyer, Ruoff served as a licensed electrician, bartender, and philosopher.
- J.D. — Franklin Pierce Law Center
- Practice focused on criminal and civil litigation.
- His background includes public defense, work as an assistant attorney general, and partnership at Howard & Ruoff, where he handled criminal and civil litigation.
- He is a founding member of the National Association of State Court’s Rural Justice Initiative

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### electronic devices and media

Scope: statewide

New Hampshire's published statewide guidance requires presiding-judge approval before still or video equipment may be used in a courtroom, and the presiding judge retains discretion over recording devices.

Evidence excerpt: The form must be approved by the presiding judge before that individual or organization will be permitted to use still or video equipment in the courtroom.

[New Hampshire Judicial Branch Guidelines for Use of Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.nh.gov/media/guidelines-use-cameras-and-audio-equipment)
Source checked: 2026-07-27


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/superior-court/justices)
- [Official roster](https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/superior-court/justices)
- [New Hampshire Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/superior-court/justices)
- [New Hampshire Judicial Branch Guidelines for Use of Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.nh.gov/media/guidelines-use-cameras-and-audio-equipment)
- [New Hampshire Judicial Branch](https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/superior-court/justices)
- [New Hampshire Judicial Branch](https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/superior-court/justices)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [New Hampshire Judicial Branch Guidelines for Use of Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-769f82f4097759e4fc40cf05) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.nh.gov/media/guidelines-use-cameras-and-audio-equipment). Collected 2026-07-27.