Buy Now A Merrimack County Superior Court judge rejected a lawsuit charging the ban on large gatherings due to risks from COVID-19 violates constitutional rights to free speech, free assembly nd religious freedom. Here, Gov. Chris Sununu walks to the podium before speaking at a press conference on the coronavirus in Concord late last week. DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER CONCORD — A Superior Court judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the governor’s authority to ban public gatherings of more than 50 people because of the risk posed by COVID-19. After a one-hour hearing, Judge John Kissinger said a 2002 state law gave the governor broad powers to declare an emergency to protect the public. “The bottom line here is that the court finds there is overwhelming factual and legal support in the governor’s action in declaring a state of emergency,” Kissinger said from the bench after the hearing in Merrimack County Superior Court. “It is clear from the factual conclusions … that this is an extraordinary public health crisis and the danger to the citizens of New Hampshire, the country and the world is real and it is imminent,” Kissinger said. “The court cannot imagine a more critical public […]
