Maine Supreme Judicial Court Decisions
Established in 1820 when Maine became a state, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court takes its authority from Article VI, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution. Previously, Maine had been part of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had held jurisdiction over Maine residents. The Court is distinct from many other state supreme courts because it has the authority to issue advisory opinions upon the request of the executive branch or the legislative branch. Like many other courts, it holds appellate jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases in the state. When the Maine Supreme Judicial Court exercises its appellate jurisdiction, it is formally known as the Law Court. According to a Stanford University study in 2012, it is the second-most liberal state supreme court in the U.S.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court consists of seven justices. Each justice serves a seven-year term, which can be renewed an unlimited number of times. Instead of electing its justices, Maine uses an appointment process. The Governor of Maine appoints each new justice, who then must be confirmed by the Maine State Senate. The Governor also appoints the Chief Justice on the Court, and the Chief Justice serves in that capacity for their entire seven-year term. There are no specific requirements for a candidate to be appointed to the Court, except that they must be “learned in the law.”
A justice may be removed from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court if they are impeached by the Maine House of Representatives in a majority vote and convicted by the Maine State Senate in a two-thirds vote. Alternatively, a justice may face removal upon the address by the Governor of both the House of Representatives and the State Senate.
- 2024 (30)
- 2023 (82)
- 2022 (65)
- 2021 (68)
- 2020 (171)
- 2019 (206)
- 2018 (177)
- 2017 (261)
- 2016 (222)
- 2015 (177)
- 2014 (159)
- 2013 (114)
- 2012 (140)
- 2011 (137)
- 2010 (122)
- 2009 (136)
- 2008 (196)
- 2007 (155)
- 2005 (117)
- 2004 (155)
- 2003 (155)
- 2002 (103)
- 2001 (151)
- 2000 (185)
- 1999 (159)
- 1998 (205)
- 1997 (168)
- 1996 (205)
- 1995 (204)
- 1994 (174)
- 1993 (180)
- 1992 (195)
- 1991 (201)
- 1990 (188)
- 1989 (160)
- 1988 (162)
- 1987 (157)
- 1986 (160)
- 1985 (167)
- 1984 (194)
- 1983 (211)
- 1982 (194)
- 1981 (275)
- 1980 (196)
- 1979 (226)
- 1978 (302)
- 1977 (130)
- 1976 (143)
- 1975 (127)
- 1974 (118)
- 1973 (115)
- 1972 (105)
- 1971 (84)
- 1970 (87)
- 1969 (83)
- 1968 (72)
- 1967 (66)
- 1966 (58)
- 1965 (45)
- 1964 (43)
- 1963 (55)
- 1962 (49)
- 1961 (43)
- 1960 (40)
- 1959 (40)
- 1958 (44)
- 1957 (45)
- 1956 (45)
- 1955 (53)
- 1954 (47)
- 1953 (58)
- 1952 (66)
- 1951 (58)
- 1950 (53)
Recent Decisions From the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Date: April 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 30
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a group of plaintiffs, led by Chris Calnan, who challenged a rule implemented by Maine Emergency Medical Services (Maine EMS) requiring emergency medical service (EMS) workers to be fully vaccinated…
Date: April 18, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 27
Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute over an employer's vicarious liability under the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) for an employee's discriminatory behavior towards a customer. The plaintiffs, Tiffany Vargas and Erika Acevedo,…
Date: April 18, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 28
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a dispute between MMG Insurance Company (MMG) and the Estate of Philip J. Greenlaw. The dispute arose after the death of Philip Greenlaw, who died while wrestling with his friend, Joseph McNeely.…
Date: April 18, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 29
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Roger Ouellette, who was convicted of Operating Under the Influence (OUI) following a police stop in his driveway. The police officer had observed Ouellette's vehicle crossing the center line of the…
Date: April 16, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 26
Justia Opinion Summary: Randall J. Weddle was involved in a major motor vehicle accident in Washington, Maine, which resulted in the death of two drivers. The accident involved five vehicles, one of which was engulfed in flames. Weddle, the…
Date: April 11, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 25
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Mark Cardilli Jr., who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting and killing Isahak Muse, the boyfriend of Cardilli's sister. Cardilli claimed he acted in self-defense, fearing that Muse, who was…
Date: April 9, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 24
Justia Opinion Summary: Tara L. Watson was charged with three crimes, including unlawful possession of scheduled drugs (cocaine base), refusing to submit to arrest, and violation of condition of release. Watson pleaded guilty to all three…
Date: April 2, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 23
Justia Opinion Summary: The case at hand involves a dispute over the interpretation of a will left by Robert Pettengill Beckey, who was survived by his three children, Sandra L. Arthur, Angela M. Beckey, and Timothy E. Beckey. The will included…
Date: March 28, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 22
Justia Opinion Summary: The Maine Supreme Court considered a case where Virginia and Joel Parker, a couple who secure some of their food through hunting, challenged the constitutionality of Maine's longstanding ban on Sunday hunting. The…
Date: March 26, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 21
Justia Opinion Summary: The case centers around the dispute over the requirement for a supermajority vote in the Town of Bar Harbor's amendment to its Land Use Ordinance (LUO) concerning vacation rentals. Erica Brooks and Victoria Smith, both…
Date: March 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 20
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Christopher O’Donnell, as the personal representative of the estate of Erica J. O’Donnell, appealed a judgment from the York County Probate Court. The court had…
Date: March 12, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 19
Justia Opinion Summary: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court addressed an appeal from Citibank, N.A., challenging a District Court judgment in favor of the defendant, Ashley Moser, in a case related to the collection of credit card debt. The bank…
Date: March 7, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 18
Justia Opinion Summary: Two individuals, Ronald and Karen White, bought a used car from Real Deal Auto Sales & Service Center, LLC. After experiencing issues with the car, the Whites asked Real Deal to either replace the car's catalytic…
Date: February 29, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 17
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Michael Bordick and Monica Bordick defaulted on a loan from Franklin Savings Bank, which was secured with a hunting cabin they owned on property they leased. The Bank filed a complaint for recovery of the…
Date: January 31, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 14
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court reviewed a dispute between Heather Keep and Christopher Indorf regarding the division of real estate they owned jointly. Keep and Indorf were unmarried domestic partners who…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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