Sununu plans to renominate MacDonald for state Supreme Court
Nomination had been rejected by Democratically-controlled Executive Council
Nomination had been rejected by Democratically-controlled Executive Council
Nomination had been rejected by Democratically-controlled Executive Council
Gov. Chris Sununu plans to renominate Attorney General Gordon MacDonald for chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
The Executive Council rejected MacDonald in 2019, but Sununu held the seat open, and a new Republican-dominated council is now expected to confirm the pick.
Sununu made the announcement one day before the new council is sworn in.
When the outgoing council rejected MacDonald in 2019, the focus was on his past work as counsel for Republican political candidates.
"Mr. MacDonald has worked for and supported highly partisan politicians with shockingly extreme views," Democratic Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky said at the time.
After the council's rejection, Sununu announced a pause in Supreme Court nominations.
"If someone of Gordon MacDonald's character and background is going to be dragged through the mud like this, why would I dare do it to anybody else?" Sununu said at the time.
That pause lasted until Wednesday. Incoming Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, who will be the lone Democrat on the council, said she believes re-nominating MacDonald sends the wrong message.
"It just shows a level of partisanship I think is not really what the people of New Hampshire are looking for right now," she said. "I think they want what's best for the people and to stop playing partisan politics."
But some said they believe the partisan line was crossed when MacDonald was first rebuked. Former Chief Justice Robert Lynn, now a Republican state representative said he's glad the attorney general will get another chance at joining the state's highest court.
"I hope that maybe this will help to sort of right the wrong, so to speak, and maybe send a message," Lynn said.