CACR20 Relating to the power of the supreme and superior courts. Providing that such power is repealed.
Relating to the power of the supreme and superior courts. Providing that such power is repealed.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Harmful
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Potential financial impacts are unclear but could include disruption to court operations and legal proceedings that residents depend on, with uncertain costs to taxpayers.
Your Community
Removal of constitutional protections for courts could allow the legislature to dismantle or fundamentally alter the judicial system that resolves disputes, processes criminal cases, and upholds rule of law in local communities.
Your Freedom
Repealing judicial independence protections would remove a constitutional safeguard against legislative overreach and could impair residents' ability to access fair courts and legal remedies.
Status
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
Sponsor
John Sellers (R)
The Short Version
This constitutional amendment would repeal Article 72-a, which currently vests judicial power in the Supreme Court, Superior Court, and lower courts established by the legislature. If adopted, the General Court would have unrestricted power to restructure or eliminate these courts, potentially destabilizing the state's judicial system and residents' access to courts.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ The legislature would gain unchecked power to restructure the judicial branch
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ All NH residents who depend on access to courts for civil disputes, criminal defense, and justice
- ▼ The judiciary, which loses constitutional protection of its institutional independence
- ▼ Individuals seeking legal remedies, whose access could be restricted or eliminated if the legislature restructures courts
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.