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September 23, 2016: The Supreme Judicial Court and the District Court invite comments on a proposed standing order and proposed amendments to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure to expand the authority of Family Law Magistrates and make other clarifications to the procedures in family cases. Comments due by October 14, 2016.
August 18, 2016: SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to administrative order on public information and confidentiality to provide for confidentiality of images of individuals in state of nudity or engaged in sexual acts and to permit transmission of electronic versions of court documents to interpreters. Comments due by September 15, 2016.
August 18, 2016: Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley announced today that beginning on Tuesday, September 6, 2016, the public hours for most Maine state courts will be extended from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., 5 days a week. Of the 36 courthouses located throughout the state, all but 8 of the smallest courts will be open until 4:30 p.m., beginning September 6, 2016. The courts that are not changing operating hours are Dover-Foxcroft, Lincoln-Millinocket, Rumford, Newport, Calais, Houlton, Fort Kent and Presque Isle, where hours will remain 8:00 to 4:00. This is due to the small number of staff in those locations.
August 12, 2016: The Supreme Judicial Court invites amicus briefs on whether the admission at an OUI trial of a defendant's refusal to submit to testing for blood-alcohol content violates the Fourth Amendment. Briefs due on or before September 9, 2016.
August 5, 2016: The Supreme Judicial Court invites amicus briefs in three cases, involving the following subjects:
- The District Court's authority to order in a divorce matter that the parties' child have contact with a third person;
- The online availability of information about a ward's assets in a Probate Court conservatorship matter; and
- The effect of a foreign country's divorce decree on a pending divorce action in Maine.
Amicus briefs are due on or before September 2, 2016.
July 26, 2016: The Supreme Judicial Court has adopted amendments to civil, probate, and appellate rules, effective July 29, 2016. The amendments are available on the rules page.
July 25, 2016: Notice of Recruitment: Foreclosure Diversion Program Mediators open until September 6, 2016.
July 19, 2016: Maine Courts to honor the late Mort Brody on July 21, 2016.
July 14, 2016: SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to the Maine Rules for Guardians Ad Litem relating to qualifications of, complaints against, public information about, and continuing education required of guardians ad litem. Comments due by July 29, 2016.
July 7, 2016: Law Court invites amicus briefs on whether the statute governing appealable orders in child protection proceedings precludes appellate review from an order on a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 60(b). Amicus briefs due August 11, 2016.
July 7, 2016: Maine Judicial Branch Seeks to Purchase Land for Courthouse Site in Belfast. The Maine Judicial Branch wishes to purchase property for the construction of a new courthouse to be located in Belfast, Maine. The parcel will be approximately 1.75 acres, fully usable and buildable, appropriately zoned for courthouse use.
July 5, 2016: SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to Maine Rules of Civil Procedure and Maine Rules of Probate Procedure to effectuate Maine Parentage Act and legislation granting jurisdiction over adoptions, guardianships, and name changes to the District Court where that court has a pending matter involving the same child(ren). Comments due by noon on July 19, 2016.
June 30, 2016: Maine Judicial Branch Seeks to Purchase Land for Courthouse Site in York County. The Maine Judicial Branch wishes to purchase property for the construction of a new courthouse to be located in York County. The parcel will be approximately seven (7) buildable acres appropriately zoned for courthouse use.
June 15, 2016: Advisory Commission on the Uniform Bar Examination invites public comment on the adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination for Maine applicants to the bar. Comments due by July 29, 2016.
June 14, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites comments on proposed amendments to Administrative Order JB-05-5 regarding fees and procedures for court-appointed guardians ad litem and workers' compensation attorneys. Comments due by June 28, 2016.
June 6, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites comments on proposed technical amendments to the Maine Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure and the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure to account for changes to statutes, other court rules, and court practice. Comments due by June 20, 2016.
June 2, 2016: In order to permit the public, members of the bar, and members of the bench to attend the memorial service for Attorney Peter DeTroy on Friday, June 3, 2016, afternoon court proceedings at the Cumberland County Courthouse will be delayed from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
May 12, 2016: The Supreme Judicial Court is pleased to announce the formation of the Advisory Committee on the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure. The Order can be found on the Court Committees page.
May 11, 2016: The Judicial Supreme Court invites and encourages Maine attorneys to submit certification of service by the September 15th deadline for qualification for the 2016 Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program.
May 10, 2016: Law Court invites amicus briefs on the authority of the District Court to determine de facto parent status in a child protection proceeding. Amicus briefs due by June 27, 2016.
April 15, 2016: Dedication of renovated Washington County Courthouse and Supreme Judicial Court to hear appeals at Washington Academy on May 5, 2016.
April 15, 2016: The Supreme Judicial Court has established a high-profile case page for the matter of Greenlaw v. Secretary of State, the appeal from the Business and Consumer Docket order affirming the Secretary of State's determination that the citizen's initiative to permit a casino in York County did not have sufficient valid signatures to be placed on the ballot. The Court invites briefs of amici curiae. Details on the procedure for the matter are available on the high-profile case page and in the procedural order issued by the Court.
April 6, 2016: Mary Ann Lynch, spokeswoman for the Maine Judicial Branch, warned the public today about another phone call fraud scheme involving con artists who say they work for the courts and seek personal information that may allow identity theft. In this scam, someone calls pretending to be a court official and says that the person has outstanding parking or moving violation tickets. The caller claims to work for the courts. The callers are engaging in "Caller ID Spoofing," to make it appear that the calls are originating from a courthouse, when, in fact, they are not. Variations of this scam scam has been reported in a number of states.
Ms. Lynch said that no one from the Maine Judicial Branch would ever call and ask for personal information such as a social security number, date of birth, or credit card information over the telephone. Anyone receiving such a call should hang up and they may want to contact their local police department. The following web site has more information: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id.
March 9, 2016: Chief Justice Saufley delivers the State of the Judiciary.
February 25, 2016: Maine Courts Report High Volume Phone Scam – Court spokeswoman, Mary Ann Lynch, warned the public today of a current high volume phone scam that appears to be targeting Maine people. It appears that dozens, if not hundreds, of calls occurred Wednesday afternoon. Members of the public are receiving calls from a phone number that appears on the recipient's Caller ID to be a court telephone number. The scammers are using a trick called "Caller ID Spoofing," to make it appear that the calls are coming from the court system, when, in fact, they are not coming from the courts.
Lynch reminded the public that no one from the Maine courts will ever call and ask for social security numbers, credit card account numbers, or bank account information to be provided over the phone. If you receive such a call she advises that the recipient of the call should just hang up.
February 19, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites comments on proposed amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure that would allow for electronic service of documents after the initial pleading; adjust the time for a responsive pleading by a defendant; and modify the provisions regarding filing of discovery documents. Comments due March 4, 2016.
January 15, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites amicus briefs on the effect of a statutory declaration of confidentiality on discoverability of information. Briefs due by February 12, 2016.
January 15, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites comments on proposed administrative order regarding sealing of certain filed documents, images, and recordings. Comments due by January 29, 2016.
January 15, 2016: Report of the Intergovernmental Pretrial Justice Reform Task Force.
January 11, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites amicus briefs on the effect of a parent's incarceration on a petition to terminate the parent's parental rights. Briefs due February 8, 2016.
January 8, 2016: Supreme Judicial Court invites amicus briefs in appeal from a finding that the defendant inexcusably failed to comply with a condition of a deferred disposition. Briefs due February 5, 2016.
January 6, 2016: Maine Judicial Branch has issued a Request for Information seeking suggestions from property owners in York County regarding the availability of property for sale suitable for the construction of a new courthouse.