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Senior Associate Justice Linda S. Dalianis and Associate Justice Carol Ann Conboy - Both of these, particularly Justice Dalianis, will be high on Gov. Lynch's list. Justice Dalianis, the senior associate justice on the current court, was appointed by Gov. Shaheen while Justice Conboy was put on the court just last year by Gov. Lynch. Both women served long stints as Superior Court judges and appointing either of them would mark the first time that a woman has led the court.
Sen. Maggie Wood Hassan - Senator Hassan, currently Senate Majority Leader and an attorney focusing on employment law issues with Pierce Atwood in Portsmouth is an obvious choice. While her name routinely comes up in discussions about who will run for governor when Lynch retires, a post on the state's highest court might appeal to Sen. Hassan. As either chief or associate justice, she would remain as one of the state's most influential leaders and leave open the possibility of a federal appointment (a la David Souter) in the future.
Jeff Meyers - Mr. Meyers, currently serving as the governor's legal counsel, is a less obvious choice. His eight years as an Assistant AG in the environmental section, his experience as senior partner with the Manchester and Boston firm of Nelson, Kinder, Mosseau, and Saturely, and his work for cities and towns on land-use and enviromental matters give him a comprehensive background in New Hampshire law. His work as a partner have also given him some administrative experience that would be helpful if Lynch is looking for a chief justice and not to promote from within. I'm yet to meet anyone who knows him who hasn't been impressed.
Attorney General Mike Delaney - A, former attorney with Wiggin & Nourie and front-line prosecutor of many high-profile cases including the Dartmouth professor murders, Delaney is another obvious name to consider. He is smart and young (40ish)- advantages both - but his recent work cleaning up Ayotte's FRM mess have met some criticism.
Tom Donovan - Tom Donovan, a former head of the Manchester Bar Association and director at McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, was the Democratic nominee for mayor in the 2007 Manchester municipal election. His experience as both a litigator and as a director with McLane would make him a great candidate to manage the state's court system as Chief Justice. And his work as a former director of Child and Family Services of New Hampshire and his time on the Manchester Board of School Committee demonstrate his commitment to public service.
Jim Craig - Jim Craig, known as a conciliator in the NH House, is also a former Manchester Bar Association head and is known to all in New Hampshire politics. As Minority Leader in the House during Lynch's first term, Mr. Craig helped move Lynch's agenda forward in the face of GOP majorities in both Houses and on the Executive Council. As an attorney in practice with his father at the family firm, Jim Craig has helped countless Manchester citizens with legal help and counsel. His combination of Concord-insider status and reasonableness would make him a solid choice and would put a known consensus builder on New Hampshire's highest court.
Ann McLane Kuster - Last year, I mentioned Kuster as a possible dark-horse AG. I hope her current House race ends with success, but should it end in September, Lynch would be smart to consider her for a Supreme Court seat. Her experience in non-profits and other public service is too extensive and well-known to be listed here, but suffice to say that her work on the boards of both NHPR and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation are capstones to a long career in public service. Her legal experience in family, education, and health issues would also prove invaluable.
David Souter - What the hell? He won't take it, but it would drive GOP-types nuts. His achievements need not be listed here and he has previously served on the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
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