Court Rules
Court Locations/Hours
Site Map
List Service
Contact Us
SEARCH
FAQs
Chief Justice Takes Office
Chief Justice John T. Broderick Jr. took the oath of office on June 4, 2004 during a ceremony at the Supreme Court in Concord. After welcoming remarks from
Senior Associate Justice Joseph P. Nadeau, the oath was administered by Gov. Craig Benson before family, friends, colleagues and judicial branch employees who had gathered in the courtroom for the event. Chief Justice Broderick delivered the following message:
"Today is the most joyous day for me and my family in my thirty-two years as a lawyer and a judge. I stood on a lot of shoulders to get here and am both honored and humbled by the responsibilities which have been entrusted to me.
I can never adequately express my gratitude to the Governor or Executive Council for the rare privilege they have given me to serve as Chief Justice of a court I have so long admired and respected. I will do all I can to prove worthy of the public trust so essential to the administration of justice.
In an ever-changing world, increasingly diverse and complex, the doors to our courthouses must be truly open and accessible to all who seek and deserve justice. My focus in the years ahead will be on the needs of those who use the courts so that we can timely, fairly and intelligently resolve the disputes that have impacted their lives.
The world outside these walls is changing in fundamental ways and the courts must continually adapt to keep pace with that change. If we do not we will not fulfill our constitutional mission so essential to our democratic system. The judges and staff in the Judicial Branch are an extraordinary group of people whom I am honored to lead. I have every confidence that together we will meet the challenges which confront us. Failure is not an option.
As Chief Justice I will do all in my power to ensure and enhance constructive relations between the Judicial Branch and the other co-equal branches of our government. I want to thank the members of legislative leadership who are here. Your presence here today means a great deal to me and my colleagues and I hope foreshadows a new era of cooperation and dialogue. In the final analysis all of us in public service answer to the same constituency and we are duty-bound to do the people’s business in a manner befitting the dignity and privilege of our respective offices. I genuinely look forward to working with the legislature and the governor. You are the representatives of the people and the Judicial Branch needs to be a full partner in the body politic. I have much to learn and there is much at stake.
I am more conscious now than ever in my life that time and change are at work in all our lives and that we should embrace the opportunities they inevitably present. Institutions, like people, need to be attentive to the rhythms and challenges of a new age and we should willingly seek and accept the change they require. I pledge to do that.
I stand ready to be open to new ideas and new pathways, to new visions and new responsibilities so that when my time as Chief Justice is done, I can be confident that I listened, learned, cooperated and experimented in the people’s interests. I cannot do this job alone nor would our system of government be well-served if I tried.
I will need much input and much help – and I will welcome it in the spirit and in the manner the people of New Hampshire have a right to expect.
Thank you for being here and for making this day so very special."
