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 (19)
- 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: 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…
Date: January 31, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 15
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Jacob R. Labbe Sr. was convicted by the trial court on one count of domestic violence stalking and two counts of violation of a protective order. Labbe appealed arguing that the stalking statute was…
Date: January 31, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 16
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the appellant, Barni A., appealed against an order from the District Court in Lewiston, Maine, terminating her parental rights to her older child. The child was born prematurely with a genetic abnormality…
Date: January 30, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 10
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Hans Utsch and Julia H. Merck's appeal against a denial of their petition for judicial review of an email from the mining coordinator of the Department of Environmental Protection. The case originates…
Date: January 30, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 11
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) contested an order by the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) that extended the waiver of the standard depreciation rate…
Date: January 30, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 12
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Judicial Court of Maine upheld the conviction of Ralph A. Tripp Jr., who was found guilty of several drug-trafficking offenses, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and criminal forfeiture of…
Date: January 30, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 13
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court reviewed a decision by the District Court granting Camille J. Moulton's motion for summary judgment against J.P. Morgan Mortgage Acquisition Corp. Moulton's property in…
Date: January 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 6
Justia Opinion Summary: In the State of Maine v. Dale F. Thistle, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the conviction of Dale Thistle, an attorney, for theft by misapplication of property. Thistle was hired by Donna Friend, personal…
Date: January 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 7
Justia Opinion Summary: Mario Gordon appealed a judgment that denied his petition for post-conviction review in which he alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. In the underlying case, Gordon had pleaded guilty to multiple charges pursuant…
Date: January 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 8
Justia Opinion Summary: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of the University of Maine System (UMS) in a case involving Robert Bocko, who claimed that UMS failed to pay him wages on time as mandated by Maine law. Bocko, who was…
Date: January 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 9
Justia Opinion Summary: Patrick S. White appealed a judgment from the District Court in Lewiston, Maine, which determined parental rights and responsibilities concerning his minor child with Darcy L. Howard. The main issue on appeal was whether…
Date: January 24, 2024
Citation: 2024 ME 5
Justia Opinion Summary: In Maine, former President Donald J. Trump submitted a petition for his candidacy for the Republican Party’s presidential primary. Three challengers subsequently claimed that Trump was disqualified from running because…
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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