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NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM March 2026 Community
Ned Gordon and the Civics of Caring
By William nieman
this. Perhaps Ned was preparing
so many of his fellow citizens.
mentor, he said, ”Justice Brock
of marijuana probably had its genesis in his awareness of alco- At 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb-
me for the heartfelt feelings he
Reflecting on his own role in
was always a good and decent
hol abuse. The other priority we man.” From his mentors’ mod-
ruary 9th, I arrived at “Dow
would share in the subsequent
public service and in life more
eling and a multitude of his own
generally, Ned would speak of
Cottage” on the north shore
two hours of our visit. As we
discussed had matured during how he had always been lucky
of the Pemigewassit River. Ned
sat down to talk, underscoring
Ned’s many years as Circuit courtroom experiences, Ned, al-
Gordon greeted me with a smile
his intent that our conversation
Court Judge, during which he though affiliated with a political
or, as he would stress, “privi-
and easy cordiality. I had sug-
party, developed uniquely per-
leged.”
be direct and candid, Ned cau-
had heard the pleas of many gested a couple of other places
tioned that he did not want the
litigants who could not afford As Ned reflected on his public
sonal priorities to be addressed
for our “interview,” but he re-
ensuing dialogue to be too “in-
legal representation. Ned, de- by the work of government.
life, he mentioned mentors who
sponded with an invitation to
Most of these had to do with
helped him develop skills and
tellectual.”
termined to affirm equal access perspectives. Foremost among
his beloved cottage. Perhaps he
I had many questions for Bris-
to the law, has been instrumental helping people.
in promoting New Hampshire’s thought it would be the setting
Among these priorities, Ned
tol’s Town Moderator, questions
these were Justice Hugh Bownes
most conducive to a meaning-
and Justice David Brock. Justice
about his decades as a judge and
expressed sincere gratitude that
Legal Assistance program, Bownes, a decorated WWII
ful retrospective. He was right.
legislator, and about his work to
which effectively incorporated two, in particular, had become
After a brief tour of the cot-
make New Hampshire’s laws
the practice of assigning para- encoded in New Hampshire law.
hero, known for his defense of
tage’s interior, we stopped in
In 2004, Ned sponsored a law
civil liberties, gave Ned many op-
and legal practice more relevant
legals to assist in cases brought portunities, especially chances to
the dining room to look out the
and compassionate. I was some-
to the courtroom. Ned had to allocate 5 percent of Liquor
window at the snow-covered,
what intent on polishing his al-
often stressed how important Commission profits to alcohol
practice writing legal opinions.
frozen Pemigewassit. Ned, calm
abuse education and prevention.
Clerking for Justice Brock was,
ready bright image by focusing
this assistance was needed, “.... in and of itself, an eye-opening
in demeanor, looked at me and
on his achievements. Still, Ned
especially when children are He had taken to heart the ap-
said, “It appears still and quiet,
continually stressed the underly-
involved, because these circum- peal of a Bristol Middle School
experience about the interface
but it’s flowing below the sur-
student who had written to him
of justice and politics. David
ing needs that he had addressed
stances can have an enormous Brock would face impeachment
face.” I wondered why he said
and the people who had helped
impact on their lives.”
of his fears that young people
him address the unmet needs of
were getting hooked on alcohol.
during his career. Years later, a
As we talked, I wanted to Recently, Ned returned to
quote attributed to Ned speaks
learn about the political views of of the one-time clerk’s measure
a man with such a diverse and Concord to argue against the
repeal of that law. As we talked,
of what was important about the
influential life of community I got the impression that Ned’s
controversial justice. In spite of
service. After all, Ned had served the differences he had with his
as the Lead Judge of the New concern about the legalization
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