Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
New Hampshire Supreme Court justice vacancy (August 2025)
| New Hampshire Supreme Court |
|---|
 |
| Bassett vacancy |
| Date: August 31, 2025 |
| Status: Seat filled |
| Nomination |
| Nominee: Bryan Gould |
| Date: August 26, 2025 |
Governor Kelly Ayotte (R) appointed Bryan Gould to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, to replace Justice James Bassett, who retired on August 31, 2025. Ayotte appointed Gould on August 26, 2025.[1] Gould is Governor Ayotte's (R) first nominee to the five-member supreme court. Gould was confirmed on September 17, 2025, and sworn in on September 18, 2025.[2]
In New Hampshire, state supreme court justices are selected through direct gubernatorial appointment. Justices are appointed directly by the governor without the use of a nominating commission.[3] There are five states that use this selection method. To read more about the gubernatorial appointment of judges, click here.
Vacancies on the court are filled through gubernatorial appointment. A judicial selection commission recommends candidates to the governor, the governor selects a candidate, and the candidate must be confirmed by the Executive Council.[4]
Ballotpedia has compiled the following resources on the process to fill the New Hampshire Supreme Court vacancy:
- An overview of the appointee.
- An overview of the selection process.
- An overview of the court following the vacancy.
- An overview of the justice who left office.
- A list of other state supreme court appointments in 2025.
The appointee
- See also: Bryan Gould
Governor Ayotte (R) appointed Bryan Gould to the New Hampshire Supreme Court on August 26, 2025.[1] He was confirmed on September 17, 2025, and was sworn in on September 18, 2025.[2]
The selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, state supreme court justices are selected through direct gubernatorial appointment. Justices are appointed directly by the governor without the use of a nominating commission.[5] There are five states that use this selection method. To read more about the gubernatorial appointment of judges, click here.
Makeup of the court
- See also: New Hampshire Supreme Court
Justices
Following Bassett's retirement, the New Hampshire Supreme Court included the following members:
| ■ Melissa Beth Countway | Appointed by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) in 2023 | |
| ■ Patrick Donovan | Appointed by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) in 2018 | |
| ■ Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi | Appointed by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) in 2017 | |
| ■ Gordon MacDonald | Appointed by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) in 2021 |
About the court
Founded in 1876, the New Hampshire Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. The current chief of the court is Gordon MacDonald.
As of September 2025, four judges were appointed by a Republican governor, and one judge was appointed by a Democratic governor.
The New Hampshire Supreme Court meets in the Supreme Court Building in Concord, New Hampshire.[6] The court's general term begins in January, and the court holds regular sessions during the year.[7]
In New Hampshire, state supreme court justices are selected through direct gubernatorial appointment. Justices are appointed directly by the governor without the use of a nominating commission.[8] There are five states that use this selection method. To read more about the gubernatorial appointment of judges, click here.
About Justice Bassett
- See also: James Bassett
Bassett was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelor's degree in government in 1978. In 1982, he graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law.[9][10] After law school, Bassett clerked for Andrew Caffrey, chief judge for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.[11] Bassett joined Orr & Reno in 1985 and was a senior litigator at the time of his appointment to the supreme court.[10]
Other state supreme court appointments in 2025
- See also: State supreme court vacancies, 2025
The following table lists vacancies on state supreme courts that opened in 2025. Click the link under the Court column for a particular vacancy for more information on that vacancy.
Click here for vacancies that opened in 2024.
| 2025 State Supreme Court Vacancies |
|---|
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Office of the Governor, "Governor Ayotte Announces Nominations for Attorney General and Supreme Court," August 26, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Office of the Governor - Kelly Ayotte, "Bryan Gould Confirmed as Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court," September 17, 2025
- ↑ Note: In New Hampshire, a judicial selection commission has been established by executive order. The commission's recommendations are not binding.
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: New Hampshire | Selection of Judges," accessed August 24, 2021
- ↑ Note: In New Hampshire, a judicial selection commission has been established by executive order. The commission's recommendations are not binding.
- ↑ New Hampshire Judicial Branch, "About the Supreme Court," accessed August 25, 2021
- ↑ Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of New Hampshire, "Rule 2. Term and Sessions," accessed August 25, 2021
- ↑ Note: In New Hampshire, a judicial selection commission has been established by executive order. The commission's recommendations are not binding.
- ↑ Dartmouth Alumni, "Dartmouth College Case Symposium Presenters," accessed July 11, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 New Hampshire Bar Association, "James Bassett Nominated to Supreme Court," archived October 22, 2014
- ↑ New Hampshire Judicial Branch, "Statement to the Executive Council," May 18, 2012
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of New Hampshire • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Hampshire
State courts:
New Hampshire Supreme Court • New Hampshire Superior Courts • New Hampshire Circuit Courts • New Hampshire Probate Courts • New Hampshire District Court • New Hampshire Family Division
State resources:
Courts in New Hampshire • New Hampshire judicial elections • Judicial selection in New Hampshire
| |||||||
