By VDC staff

A Grafton County judge has denied a motion for reconsideration by state prosecutors in the case of Robert Tulloch, a Vermonter serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for killing two Dartmouth professors in 2021, reports InDepthNH.org and other outlets, the Journal-Opinion reports.

“Tulloch has been seeking a new sentence in the case since 2018, when his attorneys first raised the question over his life sentence without parole. After years of litigation, [Grafton County Superior Court Judge Lawrence] MacLeod ruled in July that sentencing a minor to a prison forever violates the New Hampshire constitution’s Article 33, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishments.”

A spokesman for the New Hampshire Department of Justice said the state was reviewing MacLeod’s latest ruling. 

Tulloch’s co-conspirator, James Parker, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He has since been released on parole. 

Dame endorsement list grows

Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame on Wednesday released an updated list of endorsements from sitting legislators supporting his bid for re-election at the party’s November 8 convention.

Dame, the incumbent, is seeking another term leading the Vermont GOP, which will hold its state convention in South Burlington on November 8. He is being challenged by Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex). The statement was emailed to VDC from Dame’s vtgop.org email address.

Dame said he has now received public endorsements from 27 Republican lawmakers, with “even more legislators” offering private support. He also noted that a previous challenger dropped out of the race after the initial wave of endorsements.

“Last week I had 20 legislators publicly endorse me to show the strength of support I have had in this role and the success we had together last year,” Dame said. “These overwhelming endorsements led my first opponent to drop out of the race completely.”

Legislators (House members unless otherwise mentioned) endorsing Dame:
Allen “Penny” Demar (R-Franklin-7)
Beth Quimby (R-Caledonia-3)
Bill Canfield (R-Rutland-10)
Sen. Brian Collamore (R-Rutland)
Carolyn Branagan (R-Franklin-1)
Chris Pritchard (R-Rutland-Bennington)
Christopher Keyser (R-Rutland-7)
David Bosch (R-Rutland-2)
Debbie Powers (R-Caledonia-1)
Eric Maguire (R-Rutland-5)
Gregg Burtt (R-Caledonia-Washington)
James Gregoire (R-Franklin-6)
Jim Harrison (R-Rutland-11)
Joe Luneau (R-Franklin-3)
Kevin Winter (R-Rutland-Windsor)
Larry Labor (R-Essex-Orleans)
Mark Higley (R-Orleans-Lamoille)
Marty Feltus (R-Caledonia-3)
Michael Boutin (R-Washington-3)
Sen.  Terry Williams (R-Rutland)
Thomas Charlton (R-Windsor-Windham)
Todd Nielsen (R-Rutland-9)
Tom Burditt (R-Rutland-2)
Tony Micklus (R-Chittenden-Franklin)
Topper McFaun (R-Washington-Orange)
Wayne Laroche (R-Franklin-5)
Woodman Page (R-Orleans-2)

Dame added that there are “even more legislators who support my re-election from behind the scenes.” He also said he has visited seven of the state’s 14 county Republican organizations so far and has been “encouraged by the outpouring of support” from delegates as the party looks ahead to the 2026 election cycle.

Vermont author Hogue’s novel ‘Rack’ gets good review

“Rack,” by Vermont author Jim Hogue, has received a positive review on the U.S. Review of Books. Here’s an excerpt:

“Rack is a man who is spoiling for a fight, but he’s currently living in a place where people don’t possess a similar pugnacity. When he meets June, he finds a woman capable of smoothing his rough edges while also giving him a battle worth waging. June Manet is an environmental lawyer, tired of the injustice she has witnessed in the crooked judicial system. She has been concerned about the exploitation of illegal immigrants, especially as it relates to human trafficking. She enlists Rack to help set up a sting wherein the corrupt partnerships between government officials, cartels, and other parties can be exposed.”