Terie Norelli and Susan Arnold
Editor s note: This column was submitted before Gordon MacDonald was confirmed by the Executive Council on Jan. 22. Its main points remain relevant, as MacDonald s confirmation was never in doubt with Republicans holding a 4-1 majority.
That Gordon MacDonald should serve as Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court is a very bad and dangerous idea. He should not be placed in the position that is ultimately responsible for protecting rights that he himself does not believe in. Attorney General MacDonald would pose a grave risk to basic liberties were he to be confirmed by the Executive Council.
Attorney General Gordon MacDonald confirmed as Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court in 4-1 vote
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald in West Lebanon, N.H., on Feb. 13, 2018. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Geoff Hansen
Published: 1/22/2021 10:58:57 AM
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald will be New Hampshire’s next chief justice of the state Supreme Court, after a 4-1 Executive Council vote Friday that confirmed his nomination.
After brief remarks, the four Republican councilors voted together to confirm. The body had met Thursday for day-long hearing in which councilors and members of the public sifted through his career and testified to his character.
NH AG Gordon MacDonald renominated to be chief justice of state Supreme Court
Attorney General Gordon MacDonald has an opportunity to elevate the debate over the school voucher bill.
Modified: 1/21/2021 10:05:06 PM
CONCORD Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said he would respect U.S. Supreme Court precedent if appointed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court including over reproductive rights responding to questions at an extended hearing Thursday to assess his renomination by Gov. Chris Sununu.
However, he would not detail how he might rule in the state’s highest court should Roe v. Wade be overturned federally, citing a long-standing tradition of not commenting on future decisions as a judicial nominee. He declined to divulge his own opinion.
N.H. Attorney General Gordon MacDonald will be the next chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald has been confirmed as chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, ending a protracted political dispute over who should lead the state’s high court.
The Executive Council vote Friday broke along party lines, with the council’s four Republicans uniting to elevate MacDonald, who’s never been a judge but who is widely respected in state legal circles, to the state’s highest judicial post.
“I haven’t seen an attorney general work any harder than Gordon MacDonald,” said Councilor David Wheeler, a Republican from Milford. “He has never lied to me that’s a big deal for me never given me false information. And that is a characteristic I’d like to see in a Supreme Court justice.”
At state Supreme Court nomination hearing, MacDonald grilled over Roe v. Wade
Attorney General Gordon MacDonald has an opportunity to elevate the debate over the school voucher bill. AP
Published: 1/21/2021 4:28:08 PM
Attorney General Gordon MacDonald said that he would respect U.S. Supreme Court precedent if appointed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court – including over reproductive rights – responding to questions at an extended hearing Thursday to assess his renomination by Gov. Chris Sununu.
However, he would not detail how he might rule in the state’s highest court should Roe v. Wade be overturned federally, citing a longstanding tradition of not commenting on future decisions as a judicial nominee. He declined to divulge his own opinion.