US EditionNew Hampshire Supreme Court nominee defends COVID-19 policies
Daniel Will pledged to rule based on law amid debate over his defense of COVID-19 restrictions; supporters include prominent judges while critics cite civil liberties concerns.
- On Feb. 6, 2026, Superior Court Judge Daniel Will appeared before the New Hampshire Executive Council and said he would decide cases by applying statutory and constitutional text, not personal views.
- As the state's first solicitor general, Will led appeals defending New Hampshire from 2018 to 2021, including Sununu-era COVID-19 orders, Laurie List litigation, and ConVal challenges.
- Asked by Republican Councilor John Stephen Friday whether his prior work would force recusal, Will said no in many instances but cannot sit on cases he personally participated in and noted few active lawsuits would require recusal after five years.
- The five-member Executive Council must vote on Will's confirmation, with Councilor David Wheeler likely opposing, as a vote could occur as soon as Feb. 11.
- Given the unusual ConVal majority and recent retirements, participation or recusal by Will could influence the outcome of Rand, likely appealed this year, affecting court dynamics.
6 Articles
6 Articles
Supreme Court nominee Will denies backing suspension of Constitution during COVID
During his confirmation hearing Friday, New Hampshire Supreme Court nominee Daniel Will of Loudon denied that he ever supported suspending the state Constitution when defending state emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel Will Mostly Praised at Hearing on Nomination to the NH Supreme Court
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org CONCORD – Superior Court Judge Daniel E. Will was questioned by members of the Executive Council and the subject of a public hearing Friday on whether he should serve as an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.More than 20 people spoke in support of the nomination saying Will is an outstanding judge with all the qualities needed for the job on the five-member court while about eight spoke against the…
The Laconia Daily Sun
New Hampshire BulletinSupreme Court nominee lays out philosophy, says he won’t recuse himself from school funding case
Judge Daniel Will would likely not recuse himself from a challenge to New Hampshire’s school funding model if confirmed to the state Supreme Court, he said Friday, despite having previously argued against a similar lawsuit for the Attorney General’s Office.…
Daniel Will, nominee for NH Supreme Court, makes case before Executive Council
Will is currently a state superior court judge. He faced questions Friday over his judicial philosophy and past work defending Gov. Sununu’s COVID-era restrictions on public gatherings.
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