Gordon J. MacDonald at a glance
- Current role
- Former Chief Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New Hampshire · State
- Judicial service
- Former
Gordon J. MacDonald
Former Chief Justice · Supreme Court of New Hampshire
Biography
Professional career
- Chief justice, New Hampshire Supreme Court, 2021–September 15, 2026; resigned, effective immediately
- American lawyer and jurist who held the role of the 37th Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from March 4, 2021, until his resignation on September 15, 2026
- Attorney General, State of New Hampshire; 2017-2021
- A Dartmouth and Cornell Law graduate, he previously practiced at Nixon Peabody and served as New Hampshire attorney general from 2017 to 2021
- Appointed by then-Governor Chris Sununu after a four-year tenure as New Hampshire’s Attorney General (2017–2021)
- Litigation partner, Nixon Peabody LLP; until 2017
- Law clerk to Judge Norman H. Stahl, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- As attorney general, he created a Civil Rights Unit, oversaw major investigations, and pursued litigation on issues such as PFAS contamination and remote worker taxation
- Before becoming chief justice, MacDonald was a congressional chief of staff, a federal appellate law clerk, and a commercial litigation partner at Nixon Peabody LLP.
Education
- Cornell Law School — J.D. (1994)
- Dartmouth College — B.A. (1983)
- Undergraduate degree — Dartmouth College — 1983
Additional information
- Judicial service end: effective date: 2026-09-15; reason: resigned
- Born November 27, 1961, Los Angeles, CA.
- Gubernatorial nomination with Executive Council confirmation
- The Judicial Conduct Committee found MacDonald failed to “promote public confidence” in the judiciary, did not perform duties competently, and avoided favoritism in her removal New Hampshire Public Radio
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Electronic Devices And Media
Statewide
New Hampshire's published statewide guidance requires presiding-judge approval before still or video equipment may be used in a courtroom, and the presiding judge retains discretion over recording devices.
The form must be approved by the presiding judge before that individual or organization will be permitted to use still or video equipment in the courtroom.New Hampshire Judicial Branch Guidelines for Use of Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗
Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 8, 2026.
New Hampshire Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View New Hampshire Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗New Hampshire Judicial Branch Guidelines for Use of Cameras and Audio Equipment
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View New Hampshire Judicial Branch Guidelines for Use of Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, Rudman Center leadership biography
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 8, 2026
View UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, Rudman Center leadership biography ↗New Hampshire Judicial Branch
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 6, 2026
View New Hampshire Judicial Branch ↗New Hampshire supplied research: macdonald-background
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 3, 2026
View New Hampshire supplied research: macdonald-background ↗New Hampshire supplied research: macdonald-resignation
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 3, 2026
View New Hampshire supplied research: macdonald-resignation ↗