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• July 12, 2018: The SJC has adopted amendments to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure to require in third-party practice electronic service of documents, after the intiial complaint and summons, between attorneys and unrepresented parties who opt in to electronic service. Rules effective on July 11, 2018.


• July 1, 2018: The SJC has adopted amendments to the Maine Rules of Evidence regarding prior consistent statements of a witness and business records. Rules effective on August 1, 2018.


• July 1, 2018: The SJC has adopted amendments to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure to require electronic service of documents, after the intiial complaint and summons, between attorneys and unrepresented parties who opt in to electronic service. Rules effective on July 1, 2018.


• June 21, 2018: SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to the Maine Rules of Probate Procedure to (1) require electronic filing in all pending Probate Court matters, regardless of the date that a matter was commenced; (2) require Registered Filers (as defined by the rules) to pay all fees and costs electronically; and (3) make other technical and grammatical corrections and clarifications. ​ Comments due by July 5, 2018.​


• May 22, 2018: The Supreme Judicial Court invites comments on proposed amendments to the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct and the Maine Bar Rules to prohibit harassment and discrimination by lawyers in conduct or communication related to the practice of law and to require lawyers to attend continuing education on harassment and discrimination. Comments due by June 5, 2018.


• April 4, 2018: Katahdin Counsel Recognition Ceremonies- Ceremonies to thank Maine lawyers who have contributed 50 or more hours of pro bono legal services to Maine's neediest populations during the 2016-2017 reporting period will be held on the following dates and locations:
  • Portland, May 3, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. in Courtroom 11 of the Cumberland County Courthouse;
  • Augusta, May 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the historic Superior Court courtroom in the old section of the Capital Judicial Center; and
  • Bangor, May 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 202 on the second floor of the Penobscot Judicial Center.

• March 15, 2018: The Maine Statistical Analysis Center at the Muskie School of Public Service recently released the 2017 Court Access and Fairness Survey Report. This report summarizes the findings from the 2017 Maine Court Access and Fairness Survey, which asked survey participants to respond to a series of court “access” and “fairness” questions. The survey was conducted in March 2017 and was completed by 1,039 participants, all of whom were visitors to various courthouses across the State of Maine. The survey results summarized in this report are part of ongoing efforts by the Maine Judicial Branch (MJB) to be responsive to the government and the public. Findings from this research were positive, reflecting court users’ belief that courts are both accessible and fair. Read or download the report here.

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