This is a waste of time and politically motivated.
HR7
House · 2025 sessionRepublicanKilled in HouseInvestigating impeachment of Judge Ruoff
AIDirects the house of representatives to investigate whether grounds exist to impeach Judge David Ruoff over his court order regarding state education funding, with a report due by November 1, 2025.
instructing the house of representatives to investigate whether grounds exist to impeach Judge David Ruoff.
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Adopted
Division of testimony
419 submissionsArgument digest · AI-generated
from 106 of 106 written submissionsHR7 would direct the House to investigate whether grounds exist to impeach Superior Court Judge David Ruoff, who ruled in the ConVal case that the state must increase its per-pupil education funding. Virtually every submission in the record opposes the resolution, framing it as retaliation for an unfavorable ruling that threatens judicial independence, and arguing the legislature should instead address its own long-standing failure to adequately fund public education; no submissions supporting an impeachment investigation were found.
- Impeachment used as retaliation for a disliked rulingOppose33 of 106 reviewed
Submitters argue impeachment is an extraordinary remedy meant for serious misconduct, not a tool to punish or pressure a judge for issuing a lawful ruling the legislature disagrees with.
“Impeaching a judge for a ruling that lawmakers don’t like is an outrageous abuse of power. The judiciary exists precisely to check legislative overreach and ensure constitutional rights are upheld.”
— Kathy Hubert, Newport · #493316 — read full submission →
“I think you don't like the choice he made and want that to be grounds for impeachment. Save it for lawmakers who are actually violating the law.”
— Heather Fritchy, DERRY · #499342 — read full submission →
- Threatens judicial independence and separation of powersOppose20 of 106 reviewed
Submitters argue the resolution attacks the constitutional separation of powers and would undermine the judiciary's ability to act as an independent check on the legislature and executive.
“Investigating a judge for impeachment because the legislature disagrees with their legal reasoning sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the separation of powers fundamental to our government.”
— Robert Vodra, Pembroke · #496236 — read full submission →
“This is a gross abuse of power. The legislative and executive branch cannot escape the checks and balances of the judiciary branch.”
— Kevin Blanchette, Concord · #497595 — read full submission →
- Legislature's own failure to fund education is the real issueOppose29 of 106 reviewed
Submitters argue the underlying problem is the legislature's decades-long failure to adequately fund public education, and that lawmakers should spend their time fixing school funding rather than pursuing impeachment.
“The lawmakers have been repeatedly charged with the task of determining what constitutes adequate funding for the past 30 years. 30 YEARS! Judge Ruoff should be commended for taking steps to uphold the constitution and follow court orders.”
— Kathy McLean, Hooksett · #488472 — read full submission →
“Rather than targeting a judge and disregarding decades of established court precedent, the legislature should focus on addressing the real issue: fixing New Hampshire’s school funding system.”
— Michelle Stith, Windham · #494129 — read full submission →
- Framed as politically motivated intimidationOppose12 of 106 reviewed
Submitters describe the resolution as partisan retaliation or intimidation of a judge and officials generally, sometimes comparing it to similar tactics against courts elsewhere in the country.
“Are you really trying to impeach a judge because you didn't like their ruling on a case? That's embarrassing and straight out of the Trump playbook.”
— Frank Stetson, Milford · #497876 — read full submission →
“One more attempt of certain legislators to intimidate officials who make good faith decisions they don't like.”
— Laura Steel, Plainfield · #497607 — read full submission →
- Wastes legislative time and taxpayer moneyOppose9 of 106 reviewed
Submitters characterize the investigation as a meritless, costly distraction from more pressing state business, sometimes noting how rarely NH judges have historically been impeached.
“In the history of our state, only 2 judges have been impeached. One way back in 1790, but he resigned before his trial, the second in 2000. In that case, the Senate voted to acquit.”
— Daniel LeClerc, Amherst · #496750 — read full submission →
“This is foolishness and would be a waste of state resources and time.”
— Heather Scalera, Nashua · #493387 — read full submission →
- Appeal, not impeachment, is the proper remedyOppose4 of 106 reviewed
Submitters argue that if the legislature disagrees with a ruling, the appropriate response is to pursue an appeal or change the underlying law, not to threaten the judge who issued it.
- Sets a chilling precedent for future rulingsOppose2 of 106 reviewed
A smaller number of submitters warn the resolution could discourage future judges from issuing rulings that hold the legislature accountable, out of fear of retaliation.
Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.
Both HCR 11 and HR 7 [below] are extreme resolutions that seek to undermine the judicial branch’s role in ensuring New Hampshire provides an adequate education for all students. Instead of undermining decades of court precedent and pushing to impeach a judge, the legislature should be focused on fixing school funding
I oppose HR 7. This bill is seeking to legitimize the sponsors’ opposition to Judge Ruoff’s decisions by seeking his impeachment. It is clear effort to undermine the rule of law while undermining public education and sending a message that a judge’s decision is not binding.
Wow! What an outrageous and blatant attempt to threaten our judicial system, just because legislators don't like the ruling of a judge! Just because some members don't agree with Judge David Ruoff's opinion that the state of NH needs to financially support an adequate education for ALL of its public school children, they are trying to influence this judge (and the judicial system) with an investigation and impeachment! There is no place in NH or our democracy for the use of such threats, thuggery, and apparent emotional blackmail to attempt to undermine our judges, courts, and judicial system and to usurp their legitimate power. Rather, the legislature needs to recognize its own repeated failure, over many years, to provide the funding needed for an adequate education, and therefore its own responsibility for the court's needed involvement. What a shameful response! Please OPPOSE HR7 and restore some integrity to this legislature!
OPPOSE HCR7 So now if any judge does not toe the Republican regime line they will be threatened with impeachment? If the legislature were funding schools adequately, there would be no need for a lawsuit, and now you blame the judge for the ruling instead of yourselves? Despicable. Robin Helrich Hopkinton
I strongly oppose this bill. This bill subverts the principle of separation of powers between the judicial, executive, and legislative branches and sets the dangerous precedent of ignoring court decisions. The courts play a role in ensuring that the state's education system meets our constitutional requirements.
Inappropriate
New Hampshire ranks 50th in funding public education (51 if you want to count Canada). The legislature of New Hampshire has totally failed in its duty to adequately fund public education. The court has ruled that the State should pay its fair share and quit passing most of the cost for public education down to the localities via property taxes. So now, when you don't like the court ruling, you want to pass a resolution to determine whether the judge making the ruling should be impeached. This bill and ones like it threaten the separation of powers. Our kids education should not be a race to the bottom. The State should be funding public education at a reasonable level. Our kids are our future.
Judge Ruoff has shown himself to be fair and honest. Stop the shenanigans to try to keep from supporting public education. Perhaps it's Rep Belcher who should be impeached.
Asking the members of the NH House of Representatives to consider Impeaching a member of the NH Judicial Branch is clearly wrong. In his rulings to uphold the Claremont cases, Judge Ruoff did his job. It’s time to do your job. Find a different way to balance the NH budget.
Trans and gays are humans. So called christians are hypocrites Jesus. never mentioned homosexuality and i don't believe he was naive. He does hypocrisy many times . Paul, claims not to be Christ does, but it was a time when orgies in Rome were going on and boys were introduced into them regardless of affinity.Such bills are hatred, prejudiced cruelty and ignorance under a mask of morality,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to HR 7, a resolution that seek to undermine the judicial branch’s role in protecting our constitutional rights. This resolution ignore the essential guidance provided by the courts regarding what constitutes an adequate education and the state's responsibility to fund it and even go so far as to threaten impeachment for rulings that some members of the legislature disagree with. The judicial branch has provided essential and legitimate direction in defining an adequate education and holding the state accountable for funding that education. Instead of passing Hr 7, the legislature should be spending time actually confronting how to adequately define and pay for public education in New Hampshire. I urge you to reject these resolutions and take your responsibility to provide New Hampshire students with an adequate education seriously. These resolutions are a dangerous step backward in ensuring that commitment is met.
This yet again attempts to undermine the Dept of Justice. The legislature should be focusing on fixing school funding - not going after a judge!
Impeachment? Why are supporters of this bill wasting our time with this.
Separation of powers!
If what he tried to do was actually out of the scope of his job, then it would have been disregarded. I think you don't like the choice he made and want that to be grounds for impeachment. Save it for lawmakers who are actually violating the law.
Providing an adequate education to all students in NH is essential to the wellbeing of our state.
One cannot impeach a judge because he disagrees with a ruling.
The legislature should be focused on fixing school funding!
I'm a lifelong learner and committed to full access to written materials in the schools.
I oppose this bill.
Impeaching a judge on the basis of a ruling is wrong. Judge Ruoff should not be impeached. This is a desperate overreach of the legislative branch that should be far more concerned with using its time and effort to adequately and fairly fund a public education in the state of NH, which is requirement of our state constitution.
The enemies of an adequate education for NH students are at it again.
Instead of undermining decades of court precedent and pushing to impeach a judge, the legislature should be focused on fixing school funding!!!
A judge should not be impeached for ruling on this constitutional matter. Just because the state doesn't want to fund education, doesn't mean the judge was wrong to demand it.