Guldbrandsen follows in Judge Carroll’s footsteps

County Attorney nominated for judgeship

By THOMAS P. CALDWELL, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — Belknap County Attorney Melissa Guldbrandsen will appear today at a public hearing before the governor and Executive Council on her nomination to serve as a circuit court judge.

Guldbrandsen is Gov. Chris Sununu’s first judicial nominee, and must be confirmed by the Executive Council before serving.

District One Executive Councilor Joe Kenney said he met with the Alton resident yesterday morning to get to know her a little better, and he found her to be a capable woman with a good background in case work at the county level. He said he questioned her about her experience beyond criminal prosecution and learned that she had a breadth of experience from her work in private practice as well as gaining a good perspective from her work in the drug court.

“She has a different perspective from other judicial appointments, from being a prosecutor, which I think is a good thing,” Kenney said.

“The Executive Council is looking forward to the hearing, to get to know her a little better and to hear from the public and her peers,” he said.

He said the Executive Council typically looks at a nominee’s legal qualifications as well as community involvement, philosophy and management style and other factors that may come into play as a circuit court judge.

“It will be a robust hearing,” he promised.

Carole Alfano, communications manager for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch, said six circuit judges will be retiring this year, and two more at the end of 2018. She also noted that there is a move to include one to three new circuit court judges in the next budget.

Three vacancies currently exist, with James Patten having retired on Jan. 12, John Emery on Jan. 26, and Phillips Runyon on April 20.

James Carroll, presiding judge for the Fourth Circuit District Division in Laconia, will be retiring on June 16, with Thomas Barry scheduled to retire on Aug. 28 and Gregory Michael on Dec. 10.

In 2018, Edward Burke will retire May 30 and Edward “Ned” Gordon on June 13.

In nominating Guldbrandsen, Sununu said, “I have great respect for Melissa and her exemplary record of service, not only as Belknap County Attorney, but as an active member of her community.”

A member of the Bar for 15 years, Guldbrandsen earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel in 2002. She holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and education, and a master’s degree in education, from the University of New Hampshire. Guldbrandsen was appointed County Attorney in 2011, filling a vacancy left when James Carroll was named to the bench of Laconia District Court, as it was then known.

Sununu chose her from a list of judges vetted by the Judicial Selection Commission he established in February, led by former congressman and New Hampshire Supreme Court justice Chuck Douglas.

Melissa Guldbrandsen