John Formella
31st Attorney General of New Hampshire
Assumed office
April 22, 2021
GovernorChris Sununu
Preceded byGordon J. MacDonald
Personal details
Born1986 or 1987 (age 36–37)
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationFlorida State University (BA, MS)
George Washington University (JD)

John Michael Formella (born 1986/1987)[1] is an American lawyer serving as the 31st Attorney General of New Hampshire since 2021. He previously served as legal counsel for Governor Chris Sununu.[1][2][3]

Early life and career

Formella was born in Rochester, Minnesota, to John and Nancy Formella. He has been a resident of New Hampshire since 1999, when his family relocated to New Hampshire from Florida.[4] He attended Florida State University from 2004 to 2009, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in English Literature and later an M.S. in Applied American Politics and Policy. Formella later attended George Washington University Law School, where he graduated with honors and was a member of the George Washington University International Law Review. In 2009, Formella served as a legislative intern for Florida State Representative Steve Crisafulli. In 2010, he served as a judicial intern to United States district judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington of the Middle District of Florida.[5]

After graduating from law school in 2012, Formella began his career in private practice at Pierce Atwood LLP --- one of the largest law firms in Northern New England at the time. At Pierce Atwood, Formella practiced actively in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine and was a member of the Firm's Business and Environmental Law practice groups.[6] He left the firm in January 2017 to accept an appointment as Legal Counsel to incoming New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu.

Formella served as Governor Chris Sununu's legal counsel from Sununu's first day in office on January 5, 2017, through April 16, 2021. In that role, he advised the Governor and coordinated with the New Hampshire Department of Justice and Executive Branch officials on all significant legal issues and litigation affecting the State. In addition, he worked with the Sununu administration to address numerous and significant challenges, including the negotiation of a revised seven year MET/DSH settlement agreement that brought stability to New Hampshire's healthcare system, the establishment of a new Doorway Program that greatly enhanced the State's response to the Opioid Crisis, criminal justice reform initiatives that secured the support of law enforcement and community stakeholders, and the multi-faceted efforts that the State of New Hampshire undertook to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.[5]

New Hampshire Attorney General

On March 3, 2021, Governor Chris Sununu nominated Formella to succeed Gordon J. MacDonald as New Hampshire Attorney General. Formella was confirmed by the Executive Council of New Hampshire in a 4-1 party line vote on March 24, 2021, and sworn into office on April 22, 2021.[7]

As Attorney General, Formella serves as the New Hampshire's Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Chief Prosecutor, and Chief Legal Officer.

Formella has continued the efforts of past New Hampshire Attorneys General to pursue companies responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic. On September 28, 2021, Formella announced that New Hampshire would join a $21 billion settlement with opioid distributors McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health and Amerisource Bergen.[8] Under the settlement, New Hampshire will receive approximately $115 million over 18 years.

Since taking office, Formella has joined in several efforts to push back against actions by President Joe Biden's administration. New Hampshire is part of a coalition of 13 states that are suing the Biden administration over a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act that bars states from using relief money to offset tax cuts.[9] In August 2021, Formella partnered with 19 other attorneys general to submit comments opposing proposed rules from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that would increase regulation of firearms kits.[10]  And in September 2021, Formella joined with 23 other Republican Attorneys General in a letter to President Joe Biden threatening legal action against the President's planned requirement that all businesses with over 100 employees institute a mandatory vaccination or testing requirement.[11]

As part of an investigation into the impact of social media on young people in 2023, Formella asked families to share stories of teenagers and children who were harmed by social media.[12]

Actions against NSC-131

On January 17 2023, John Formella along with Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport announced an enforcement action against the Nationalist Social Club (NSC-131), Christopher Hood and Leo Anthony Cullinan for violating New Hampshire's Civil Rights Act and conspiring to violate New Hampshire's Civil Rights Act. The civil complaint read as that Hood, Cullinan and NSC-131 members trespassed onto an overpass and hanged a banner reading "Keep New England White", and that these actions were motivated by race.[13] These charges were eventually dismissed by Rockingham County Superior Court Judge David Ruoff.[14]

On December 12 2023, John Formella announced an enforcement action by the New Hampshire Department of Justice's Civil Rights Unit against Nationalist Social Club-131 ("NSC-131"), Christopher Hood, and nineteen John Does for violating the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, RSA Chapter 354-A. The civil complaint alleges that Hood led a group of 19 John Does tried to intimidate the Teatotaller Cáfe into stopping their drag story hour.[15] The case is still ongoing.

References

  1. 1 2 "40 Under Forty: John Formella, 32, Portsmouth". New Hampshire Union Leader. January 27, 2019. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Governor Chris Sununu Statement on John Formella Confirmation" (Press release). March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ DiStaso, John (March 24, 2021). "Executive Council confirms Sununu legal counsel John Formella as New Hampshire Attorney General". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  4. ↑ "John Formella, 32, Portsmouth". New Hampshire Union Leader. January 27, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Sununu To Nominate John Formella As Attorney General". InDepthNH.org (Press release). March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  6. ↑ DiStaso, John (March 3, 2021). "Sununu nominates his legal counsel, John Formella, to succeed MacDonald as NH Attorney General". WMUR. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ "John Formella". National Association of Attorneys General. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ "New Hampshire to Join $21 Billion National Opioid Settlement | News | NH Department of Justice". www.doj.nh.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "13 attorneys general sue Biden admin over stimulus tax rule". AP NEWS. April 20, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Republican And Democratic AG Groups Submit Comments To ATF On Proposed Rule Clarifying Scope Of Gun Control Act". JD Supra. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ DiStaso, John (September 17, 2021). "NH Attorney General Formella explains why he believes Biden vaccine-testing mandate is 'not legal'". WMUR. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ "NH attorney general asks families to report social media impacts - CBS Boston". CBS. June 27, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Enforcement Actions Filed Against Hate Group for NH Civil Rights Act Violations in Portsmouth". New Hampshire Department of Justice Office of the Attorney Genera.
  14. ↑ "Judge dismisses civil rights case against NSC-131, a blow to prosecutors seeking to rein in white supremacist group". WBUR.org.
  15. ↑ "Attorney General Formella Announces Civil Rights Unit Enforcement Action Against NSC-131". New Hamspire Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General.
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