Opinion of the Justices

To The Honorable Senate:

The undersigned, justices of the supreme court, return the following reply to the questions presented in your resolution adopted February 10, 1977, but not filed in this court until April 22, 1977.

Senate bill 42 would establish an eleven-member judicial selection committee consisting of five appointees from the New Hampshire Bar Association, one person from each of the five councilor districts appointed by Governor and Council, and the chief justice of the state supreme court.

Whenever a vacancy occurs in a judicial position, the Governor is required to inform the…