Litigation

NH Impeachment Bill a ?Witch Hunt??

By Peter Hardin

New Hampshire’s House has voted to let its Judiciary Committee investigate for possible impeachment a marital master, a court officer who handles family court cases.

The action came on a 242-105 vote, according to an Associated Press article. The resolution also allows the panel to investigate whether there are grounds to launch impeachment proceedings against any  justice in the superior court system, according to the Gavel to Gavel blog, a publication of the National Center for State Courts.

An editorial in the Concord Monitor blasted the effort as a “witch hunt” and declared:

“The lawmakers behind the impeachment effort are acting not because the judicial process failed but because they don’t like the court’s decision.”

“Will the zany sideshow play on until voters realize what they’ve done, or will the grownups remaining take back the reins?”

You can read majority and minority committee reports on the legislation (HR 7) by clicking here. Regarding investigations of superior court justices, the minority report labeled the legislation a “breach of due process of staggering proportions.”

The National Center is a partner of Justice at Stake. You can learn more about impeachment and other threats used to intimidate judges from the JAS issues page on the topic.

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 18, 2011 (boomark / email).