Sometimes, I work hard to find topics for a column. Other times, like mid-September, there is so much going on that it is hard to fit it all in.
New Hampshire in general, and its legal profession in particular, suffered a huge loss when Jack B. Middleton died on Sept. 8. The president of McLane Middleton, he recently marked 70 years of active law practice with that firm. 
He was president of the New Hampshire Bar Association, the inspiration for the Bar Foundation, member of scores of not-profit boards including both NHPR and NHPBS, secretary of the BIA, chair of the Greater Manchester Chamber, and active in environmental causes.
Jack Middleton came to New Hampshire from his native Pennsylvania, met and married Ann Dodge, whose father was known for his involvement with the Mt. Washington Observatory, and they climbed mountains all over the world with their children and grandchildren.
Jack served for 25 years as judge of the Bedford District Court. A noted trial lawyer, he was involved in many famous cases, including the one protecting the freedom of speech of a citizen who did not want “Live Free or Die” on his license plate.
All of that does not capture the importance of Jack Middleton. It was as a mentor, friend and role model to generations of New Hampshire attorneys and other citizens, that he has left his mark. Universally, he was respected. People have stories of his professionalism and friendship, remember the cards and notes he took the time to send, and their admiration for his leadership.
Along with his contemporaries, attorneys David Nixon and Kimon Zachos, Middleton was part of the group that met at Blakes for breakfast on Thursday mornings called “The Committee to do the Right Thing.” The three of them, involved in most everything going on in Manchester and New Hampshire, would identify problems and then try to figure out how to address them, call people they identified who could help, and try to fix them, all without fanfare.
The New Hampshire Bar Foundation created an award in 2015, the year after Nixon and Zachos died, at Middleton’s suggestion, the Nixon/Zachos Award, to recognize lifetime achievements by attorneys. Middleton was the first recipient. He would never allow his name to be added to the award, however. Now, and appropriately, it will be the Nixon/Zachos/Middleton Award, as it really has been from the beginning.
When the smoke cleared after the primary election on Sept. 8, the names of the victorious candidates gave me some hope that the general election would be between high class people talking about their visions for the state and nation.
Chris Pappas, well known restaurant owner and congressman; John Sununu, noted former congressman and senator from a fine family; Kelly Ayotte, governor, senator, attorney general with a distinguished record; Cinde Warmington, attorney and former executive council member; Stepanie Shaheen, clean-cut member of a new generation of a known family; Anthony DiLorenzo, successful businessman and generous donor to UNH and other causes; and Maggie Goodlander, the congresswoman with the resume to die for; all seemed like solid choices one could feel good about. I was optimistic, regardless of the positions or parties of the candidates.
That lasted about two days, when the flood of negative ads started, some by the candidates and some by political action committees supporting them. TV was inundated with accusations and slurs against most all of the candidates, which, if you believed them, indicate we have a group of liars, criminals, thieves and otherwise defective candidates running. After a week of this, it is hard to figure out why to vote for any of them. Probably more importantly, such an atmosphere reduces respect for the system and thus the resulting government.
My request, which has no chance of being answered positively, is this. STOP ALL THIS NEGATIVE ADVERTISING AT ONCE. TELL US WHAT YOU STAND FOR AND HOW YOU WILL HELP SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.
Finally, and sadly, the resignation of New Hampshire Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, announced just before this column was written, is bad news for the state, the judiciary, and the respect for law. While it resolves a specific issue and situation, it adds to a series of problems at the Supreme Court that have been in the news for too long, regardless of their merits.
Traditionally, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire has been balanced with members from both political parties, so it was not seen as a tool of either party or an ideological weapon. Recently, however, it has become all Republican. While not arguing about the talents of the individual appointees, which are not in question, the appearance of an all-Republican or all-Democratic court is a disservice to the justice system that is supposed to be neutral and dedicated to administering justice, interpreting laws and upholding the constitutions of state and nation. One-party dominance presents an obstacle to all that.
As Gov. Ayotte considers her next appointment to the court and to head the court, she should carefully weigh the need for balance and public respect for the justice system, rather than partisan advantage or any particular case outcome
Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.
New Hampshire in general, and its legal profession in particular, suffered a huge loss when Jack B. Middleton died on Sept. 8. The president of McLane Middleton, he recently marked 70 years of active law practice with that firm.
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