AG: 'Best practices' not followed in $50K cash payout to judicial exec laid off, then given second job

State prosecutors found “best practices” in human resource matters were not followed in the unusual financial arrangement that had Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald’s former chief of staff laid off and moved into a different judicial post four days later while receiving a $50,000 cash payout for unused leave at that earlier job.

Attorney General John Formella said his office’s preliminary review of the transaction found no evidence of “actionable criminal conduct” in the matter.

The AG also noted the New Hampshire judiciary is an independent branch of government with complete autonomy when it comes to its own personnel policies.

“Based on all of the facts gathered during our preliminary review, DOJ concludes that the series of events and transactions examined do not warrant f