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Message From Chief Justice Saufley and State Court Administrator Glessner

Mission: To administer justice by providing a safe, accessible, efficient and impartial system that serves the public interest, protects individual rights, and instills respect for the law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The State of Maine faced many challenges in 2008. During the fiscal crisis, many great ideas for increased efficiency and conservation of taxpayer dollars were created or implemented within the Judicial Branch. For example,

  • The Business and Consumer Docket completed its first year, with very positive results;
     
  • The use of video conferencing was expanded throughout the state to save time and travel costs;
     
  • Library costs were substantially reduced through electronic research capacity and local publishing;
     
  • Plans for an increase in security personnel continued but were not fully realized because of lack of funding;
     
  • The Family Drug Treatment Courts, with
    an emphasis

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    on reunifying families,
    succeeded in child protection cases. The program is credited with supporting 6 mothers who gave birth to drug free babies in 2008.

  • Twenty-two of forty-one clerks’ offices have been consolidated into eleven streamlined offices;
     
  • Renovation of the courthouse in Houlton provided the foundation for a consolidation of the courts into one building in mid-2009;
     
  • Building of the new consolidated courthouse in Bangor progressed well. This environmentally responsible new courthouse will
    meet Maine Energy Conservation Building Standards and
    will open on time and on budget before the end of 2009.

2008 brought with it increased financial challenges, but with patience from the public and the dedication of the men and women of the Judicial Branch, we will weather the storm.