In the Matter of Request for Opinion of the Justices

(Related to Legislative Document 1666, Senate Paper 660, An Act to Include in the Ranked-choice Election Method for General and Special Elections the Offices of Governor, State Senator and State Representative and to Make Other Related Changes)

On February 10, 2026, the Maine State Legislature referred a question to the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Maine Constitution, related to Legislative Document 1666, Senate Paper 660, An Act to Include in the Ranked-choice Election Method for General and Special Elections the Offices of Governor, State Senator and State Representative and to Make Other Related Changes.

The Maine Judicial Branch has set up this web page to post information on the request for the opinion of the justices. This assures full access to information related to the proceeding. It is our goal to accommodate the media and the public to the best of our abilities.

All public documents will be provided here and will not be provided by the clerk's office. Please check this web page often for updates and documents related to the case.

Case Name:
In the Matter of Request for Opinion of the Justices

Supreme Judicial Court Docket Number: 
OJ-26-1

The justices invite briefs from any interested persons or entities. See the procedural order dated February 11, 2026, for details.

The justices will hold oral argument on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., in Courtroom 12 of the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland. The argument will be streamed live on the Court's livestream page.

Filings and Orders:

• March 12 to 18, 2026:  Responsive briefs filed
  • Senate President and Speaker of the House or Representatives (filed March 12, 2026)
  • League of Women Voters of Maine (filed March 18, 2026)
  • Attorney General (filed March 20, 2026)
  • FairVote and Maine Womens Lobby (filed March 20, 2026)
  • Republican National Committee (filed March 20, 2026)
• March 5 and 6, 2026: Briefs filed
• Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn
• Cabanne Howard
• Richard H. Pildes and G. Michael Parsons
• Marshall Tinkle
• Five Maine voters
• League of Women Voters of Maine 
• Dmitry Bam 
• Attorney General
• Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives  
• Republican National Committee 
• FairVote and Maine Women's Lobby 
• February 11, 2026: Procedural order
  
• February 10, 2026:
  • Letter From Darek M. Grant, Secretary of the Senate, to Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill
  • Question propounded (Sentate Paper 900)
  • L.D. 1666, S.P. 660, An Act to Include in the Ranked-choice Election Method for General and Special Elections the Offices of Governor, State Senator and State Representative and to Make Other Related Changes
  • Committee Amendment B to L.D. 1666

 

Media Contacts

Members of the media who require assistance may contact Barbara Cardone, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations, at (207) 213-2997 or barbara.cardone@courts.maine.gov.