Maine Superior Court
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The Maine Superior Court is the
trial court A trial court or court of first instance is a court having original jurisdiction, in which trials take place. Appeals from the decisions of trial courts are usually made by higher courts with the power of appellate review (appellate courts). Mos ...
of
general jurisdiction {{Globalize, article, USA, 2name=the United States, date=December 2010 A court of general jurisdiction is a court with authority to hear cases of all kinds – criminal, civil, family, probate, and so forth. United States All federal courts ar ...
in the
Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
state court system. All state
jury trial A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions. Jury trials are used in a significan ...
s are held in the Superior Court. The court is located in each of Maine's 16 counties (with two locations in Aroostook County). The Court consists of 17
justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
s who all have statewide
jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels. J ...
and travel to the different courthouses to hold court. Justices are nominated by the
Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
and
confirmed In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands. For adults, it is an affirmation of belief. It involves laying on ...
by the
Maine Senate The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constituti ...
and are appointed to seven-year terms. Me. Const. art. V, § 8
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Chief Justices of the Maine Superior Court

The position of Chief Justice of the Maine Superior Court was authorized by the
Maine Legislature The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house Maine House of Representatives and the upper house Maine Senate. The Legislature convenes at the State House in Augus ...
, P.L. 1983, c. 269, § 7, to be effective on January 1, 1984. The Chief Justice is designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to "serve at the pleasure and under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and shall be responsible for the operation of the Superior Court." 4 MRSA §101-A.


Current justices

As of , the justices of the Maine Superior Court are: Active-retired justices of the Maine Superior Court:


Former justices

Statewide Superior Court established January 1, 1930; P.L. 1929, ch 141. The Superior Court, with a location in each county, became the general jurisdiction trial court, replacing the Maine Supreme Court justices who traveled from county to county to sit in trial terms (''Nisi Prius'') in those counties without their own Superior Court. The presiding justices from the Superior Courts in four counties (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, and Penobscot) continued to serve on the statewide Superior Court. The Supreme Judicial Court was reduced from eight justices to six justices as a result of vacancies.


See also

* Courts of Maine


Reference list

{{Reflist


External links


Maine Superior Court official web site
Maine state courts
Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
Courts and tribunals with year of establishment missing