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Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald Resigns After Judicial Misconduct Admit

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald resigned after admitting violations of the New Hampshire Code of Judicial Conduct.
The resignation followed a Judicial Conduct Committee probe that began in November 2025 over a Dianne Martin personnel maneuver.
The maneuver laid off Martin in April 2025, rehired her 48 hours later, and yielded nearly $50,000 in benefits.
Governor Kelly Ayotte accepted the resignation, emphasizing the need to preserve public trust.

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Story summary

Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald resigned after admitting violations of the New Hampshire Code of Judicial Conduct.
The resignation followed a Judicial Conduct Committee probe that began in November 2025 over a Dianne Martin personnel maneuver.
The maneuver laid off Martin in April 2025, rehired her 48 hours later, and yielded nearly $50,000 in benefits.
Governor Kelly Ayotte accepted the resignation, emphasizing the need to preserve public trust.