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FAR ABOVE THE REST OF THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES -- DESPITE NEVER SERVING BEFORE AS A JUDGE. <1:34- WE FEEL INCREDIBLY CONFIDENT, NOT JUST THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE IN NOMINATING GORDON, BUT THE STATES GONNA BE IN GOOD HANDS. 1:40> GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU IS EXPECTED TO OFFICIALLY NOMINATE GORDON MCDONALD FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S SUPREME COURT, DURING TOMORROW'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING. CURRENT CHIEF JUSTICE BOB LYNN TURNS 70 THIS SUMMER, THE AGE AT WHICH NEW HAMPSHIRE'S JUSTICES' MUST RETIRE. <3:10- HAVING TO LOSE HIM BECAUSE OF THE LAW IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT IS PAR OF THE LAW, HE'S ONLY BEEN CHIEF JUSTICE FOR ONE YEAR, BUT HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB. 3:19> MACDONALD EASILY WON CONFIRMATION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNCIL HAD A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. BUT NOW -- THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS... IN A STATEMENT TO WMUR.COM POLITICAL REPORTER JOHN DISTASO- DEMOCRAT COUNCILOR ANDRU VOLINSKY CALLED IT "CONCERNING... THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED HIM TO BE CHIEF JUSTICE WHILE HE HAS NO JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER. HE'S CERTAINLY A CAPABLE LAWYER, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOMINATION." SUNUNU PICKED MACDONAL FROM A LIST OF FINALISTS RECOMMENDED BY HIS JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMISSION... A CHOICE FORMER MANCHESTER MAYOR AND CURRENT REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COUNCILOR TED GATSAS SUPPORTS. <CLIP 0010- ;18 HE'S STRAIGHT FORWARD, TELL YOU WHERE HE IS, AND HE TRIES TO HELP YOU, AND I KNOW AS MAYOR THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES THAT I CALLED FOR HIS ASSISTANCE AND HE WAS RIGHT THERE TO HELP US OUT. ;27> IN A STATEMENT -- MACDONALD SAYS THE PROSPECT OF BEING CHIEF JUSTICE IS TRULY HUMBLING. AS FOR REPLACING HIM

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Gov. Chris Sununu plans to nominate New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald to serve as the next chief justice of the state Supreme Court.As News 9's Adam Sexton first reported on Twitter, Sununu plans to officially nominate MacDonald at Wednesday's Executive Council meeting. If confirmed, MacDonald would succeed Chief Justice Bob Lynn, who is retiring on Aug. 23.Lynn has been a member of the Supreme Court since 2010 and was named chief justice in April 2018. He will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70, as required by the state Constitution, on Aug. 26. “Having to lose him because of the law is unfortunate, but it is part of the law,” Sununu told News 9. “He's only been chief justice for one year, but he's done a great job.”If MacDonald, 57, is confirmed by the majority of the five-member council, Sununu would then be in a position to nominate his successor as attorney general. "During his time as attorney general, Gordon’s leadership skills, along with his independence, have been on full display," Sununu said in a written statement. "Gordon has never been afraid to follow the path or take the action that he believes is right, even when that course may not be the easiest and even when some, including myself, may disagree with him."MacDonald has been the state's attorney general since April 2017, when he was unanimously confirmed to the post by the council. During his tenure, he worked with Sununu to establish the Justice Department's first-ever Civil Rights Unit and spearheaded an effort to create the position of solicitor general."The New Hampshire judiciary plays a vital role in the lives of the people of our state," MacDonald said in a written statement. "The prospect of serving as the leader of this branch of government is truly humbling."MacDonald was a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP in Manchester before he was appointed attorney general. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Cornell Law School and was a judicial law clerk to Judge Norman H. Stahl of the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. He has been a member of the New Hampshire Bar since 1995."I have known Gordon MacDonald for many years," Lynn said in a written statement. "He is truly a great person and an outstanding lawyer. He is smart, hardworking, and thoughtful. His extensive experience in private law practice, his leadership of the Attorney General’s Office -- probably the state's largest law firm -- his commitment to public service, and his temperament and fair mindedness make him eminently well-qualified to serve as the next chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court."After MacDonald is nominated, the Executive Council will hold a public hearing, and a confirmation vote will likely take place at a future meeting. Sununu selected MacDonald from a list of finalists recommended by the governor’s bipartisan Judicial Selection Commission.Councilor and former Manchester mayor Ted Gatsas said MacDonald had his support.“He's straightforward, tells you where he is, and he tries to help you, and I know as mayor there were a lot of times that I called for his assistance and he was right there to help us out,” Gatsas said.MacDonald would be Sununu's third appointment to the five-member court, following Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi and Patrick Donovan.Sununu also announced he plans to nominate Public Utilities Commission Chairman Martin Honigberg to serve as a Superior Court judge.“The New Hampshire judiciary plays a vital role in the lives of the people of our state,” MacDonald said. “The prospect of serving as the leader of this branch of government is truly humbling.”MacDonald served as the chair of the New Hampshire Board of Bar Examiners and the chair of the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s Commission on the New Hampshire Bar in the 21st Century. He was appointed to both positions by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.His volunteers his services for the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Emergency Program and is a former chair of the Campaign for Legal Services Leadership Council, which raises funds for civil legal assistance in New Hampshire.Sununu’s choice of MacDonald was praised by two former chief justices.Linda Dalianis cited his “intellect and thoughtfulness when dealing with matters of import,” while John Broderick said MacDonald “possesses all the right skills and qualities” and said he “has demonstrated great legal skills, impeccable character, high ethical standards and a common touch.”Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Carol Ann Conboy also praised MacDonald’s “excellent legal and leadership skills,” as well as “his enviable work ethic.”“We feel incredibly confident, not just that we are making the right choice in nominating Gordon, but the states going to be in good hands,” Sununu said.But MacDonald's nomination also drew criticism. In a statement to WMUR political reporter John DiStaso, Democrat Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky called it "concerning…that the governor has appointed Mr. MacDonald to be chief justice while he has no judicial experience whatsoever. He's certainly a capable lawyer, but there are lots of questions about this nomination.">> Related: Volinsky concerned Sununu’s nomination of MacDonald to lead Supreme Court may have been ‘wired’WMUR reporter Jessica Moran contributed to this story.