2002 SESSION

01-0892

04/01

HOUSE BILL 622

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill provides that a nominee for the New Hampshire supreme court shall not be confirmed within 60 days of such nomination and that 2 separate public hearings shall be required prior to the confirmation.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01-0892

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Powers of Governor and Council; Confirmation of Judicial Appointment; Supreme Court Nominees. Amend RSA 4:44 to read as follows:

4:44 Hearing Prior to Confirmation of Judicial Appointment.

I. Prior to making any judicial appointment with the governor under the provisions of the constitution, the executive council shall hold a public hearing to allow any member of the public who so desires to offer testimony on the prospective judicial appointee. Notice of the hearing shall be provided at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing in at least 2 newspapers of statewide circulation. Prior to making the judicial appointment, the executive council shall consider the testimony made at the public hearing.

II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, no nominee to the New Hampshire supreme court shall be confirmed by the executive council within 60 days of the date of the nomination and prior to the executive council holding 2 separate public hearings to allow any member of the public who so desires to offer testimony on the prospective nominee. Notice of the hearings required in this paragraph shall comply with the notice requirements in paragraph I.