Attorney General and Secretary of State urged to act before October 29 judicial-conduct

conference.

For Immediate Release

karina@nhrsc.com

CONCORD, N.H. — Former New Hampshire House Speaker and current Republican National

Committeeman William L. O’Brien today called on Attorney General John M. Formella and

Secretary of State David M. Scanlan to intervene before an October 29 partisan judicial-conduct conference that would use public institutions and resources to reinforce Democrat campaign attacks.

“It is outrageous that public institutions would be used to help Democrats promote yet another

false campaign theme five days before an election,” O’Brien said. “Democrats working within

these institutions have no right to commit public money, facilities, and personnel to partisan

politicking. The Attorney General and Secretary of State must act now, before this conference

takes place.”

The conference, “Judicial Conduct: Accountability, Due Process, and Public Trust,” is sponsored

by UNH Law’s Warren B. Rudman Center and scheduled for October 29, five days before the

November 3 general election. UNH’s published promotion of the event identifies two sitting

Judicial Conduct Committee members, its Executive Secretary and General Counsel, and two

attorneys who perform legal or investigative work for the Committee as the scheduled speakers.

O’Brien’s complaint points to the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s and Cinde Warmington’s

promotion of judicial-conduct allegations as a partisan campaign theme. It also highlights the

conference’s express invitation to journalists and its planned discussion of the media’s role in

reporting on judicial ethics.

“The timing, subject matter, and participants support a strong inference that this program is

intended to give official authority and fresh publicity to a Democrat campaign issue,” O’Brien

said. “The ‘educational’ label cannot conceal the political purpose of this event or excuse the

partisan use of public resources.”

The complaint requests immediate preservation of records, investigation of funding and

institutional approvals, and examination of communications between public officials and

campaigns and party officials. It asks Formella and Scanlan to seek postponement until after the

election and take appropriate enforcement action if violations are established.

“Those responsible owe New Hampshire taxpayers a full accounting of the money and staff time

committed to this effort,” O’Brien said. “Formella and Scanlan need to stop this politicking with

public funds and resources now. An investigation after Election Day cannot undo a political

benefit delivered before it.”

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