Civics: NH Chief Justice MacDonald announces resignation; ethics probe loomed
New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald announced his resignation from the bench on Tuesday, effective immediately, after being accused of violating the state’s judicial code of conduct for his role in orchestrating a payout to a top ally last year.
MacDonald’s departure marks a sudden and stunning end to his five-year tenure leading New Hampshire’s judicial branch. The 64-year-old has been out on medical leave since late July, with no explanation provided for his absence.
In a resignation letter released Tuesday morning, MacDonald said, “I believe this is in the best interests of the New Hampshire Judicial Branch. I accept responsibility and accountability for my conduct.”
News of MacDonald’s resignation came simultaneously with an announcement from the New Hampshire Supreme Court that he had admitted to violating several sections of the state’s judicial code of conduct. The ethics probe centered on MacDonald’s handling of an unusual personnel maneuver last year in which Dianne Martin, a top judicial branch employee and longtime ally of MacDonald’s, was laid off and then immediately rehired into another position, allowing her to cash out nearly $50,000 in accrued benefits.
According to records released Tuesday, the state Judicial Conduct Committee — an independent panel of judges and lawyers that investigates allegations of wrongdoing by state judges — determined that MacDonald failed to “promote public confidence” in the judiciary, failed to perform his duties competently, and failed “to avoid favoritism with respect to the removal of Dianne Martin” from her position. Rather than challenge the committee’s ethics charges through a public trial, MacDonald chose to resign.
