CONCORD - The ink was barely dry yesterday on a Merrimack County Superior Court decision making it illegal to withdraw more from paychecks of veteran public employees to support their pensions before talk of a possible appeal began.

The decision, handed down by Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Richard McNamara, deals a blow to the state retirement reform law passed last spring - and could cost the New Hampshire retirement system at least an estimated $25 million a year.

The ruling declared legal the Legislature's changes that affected all new hires, including raising the retirement age and reducing their ability to pad future pension amounts. The judge agreed it is against the law to increase contributions for all employees who had worked for at least ten years.

On Thursday, members of the Legislature who helped craft the law were already pondering an appeal, though not ready to commit to such a course of action.