N.H. Justice Brutally Beaten in Home

MANCHESTER, N.H. —  A justice on the New Hampshire Supreme Court was attacked in his home early Saturday and his face was beaten beyond recognition, authorities said. A suspect was in custody but had not been charged.

Justice John Broderick, 54, who played a role in the investigation of ethics violations charges against the state’s highest judge, underwent six hours of surgery to repair multiple fractures to his face. His prognosis for recovery was good, said his lawyer, Stephen Tober.

“He was seriously and brutally assaulted,” said Atty. Gen. Philip McLaughlin.

Broderick was sleeping when he was attacked. McLaughlin said his face was beaten so severely that he could not recognize him.

Police said Broderick’s wife, Patricia, was asleep in another room and was awakened by her husband.

McLaughlin said a suspect was in custody but that no arrest had been made, nor charges filed.

In a domestic dispute in October 2000, Broderick was charged with simple assault. He was accused of slapping his son Christian, then 30. The charge later was dropped.

Last year, Broderick and Justice James Duggan were criticized for involving themselves in negotiations on behalf of Chief Justice David Brock.

The House impeached Brock in the summer of 2000 on charges of not enforcing conflict-of-interest rules and trying to influence a lower court case.

Brock was acquitted by the Senate, but the Supreme Court-appointed Judicial Conduct Committee continued the investigation.

After Broderick and Duggan stepped in, the committee had a last-minute change of heart last April and publicly admonished Brock, deciding against more severe sanctions.

The attorney general decided in January that Broderick and Duggan did not break the law or commit ethics violations.

Broderick, a former co-chairman of Bill Clinton’s New Hampshire presidential campaign, was appointed to the high court in 1995.