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.

Browse Opinions From the Maine Supreme Judicial Court

2025 (31)
2024 (87)
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

State of Maine v. Ray
Date: March 20, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 29

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Ray was observed by a Cumberland Police Department officer riding his bicycle slightly to the left of the white fog line on Tuttle Road. The officer, traveling behind Ray and another cyclist, instructed them…

State of Maine v. Ali
Date: March 20, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 30

Justia Opinion Summary: Abdihamit A. Ali was convicted of elevated aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and criminal mischief following a jury trial in the Cumberland…

State of Maine v. Gervais
Date: March 18, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 27

Justia Opinion Summary: Ethan C. Gervais was convicted of domestic violence assault, tampering with a witness, domestic violence criminal threatening, and violating a condition of release after a two-day jury trial. The charges stemmed from…

Currier v. Currier
Date: March 18, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 28

Justia Opinion Summary: Yolanda M. Currier and James M. Currier were married in 2000, and Yolanda filed for divorce in 2017. The divorce judgment, entered in 2019, awarded Yolanda sole parental rights and responsibilities for their three…

State of Maine v. Jeff Belony
Date: March 13, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 26

Clark v. Town of Phippsburg
Date: March 11, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 25

Justia Opinion Summary: Juanita and Stephen Clark, Linda and Cliff Trebilcock, and Dan Gurney reside on Fuller Mountain Road in the Town of Phippsburg. Gurney has operated a firewood business from his property for thirty years. In September…

Hogan v. Lincoln Medical Partners
Date: March 4, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 22

Justia Opinion Summary: In November 2021, Lincoln Medical administered a COVID-19 vaccine to the five-year-old child of Jeremiah Hogan and Siara Jean Harrington at a school clinic without obtaining parental consent. Hogan filed a notice of…

Doe v. Costin
Date: March 4, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 23

Justia Opinion Summary: Pat Doe filed a complaint for protection from harassment against John Costin on behalf of her two minor children, alleging aggressive behavior by Costin, including blocking their car at school. The District Court issued…

Estate of Priest
Date: March 4, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 24

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2002 and 2009, the town of Pembroke recorded tax liens against property owned jointly by Brian E. Priest and his wife, Lisa C. Priest. The Priests paid the delinquent taxes, and the town discharged the liens through…

Maples v. Compass Harbor Village Condominium Association
Date: February 25, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 19

Justia Opinion Summary: Charles R. Maples and Kathy S. Brown, owners of two condominium units, obtained a judgment against Compass Harbor Village Condominium Association and Compass Harbor Village, LLC for damages due to mismanagement. The…

General Holdings, Inc. v. Eight Penn Partners, L.P.
Date: February 25, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 20

Justia Opinion Summary: Pamela Gleichman, a real estate developer, established four affordable housing developments in Pennsylvania as limited partnerships in the 1990s. Gleichman and her company, Gleichman & Co., Inc., served as the general…

State of Maine v. Lester
Date: February 25, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 21

Justia Opinion Summary: Raymond N. Lester was convicted of intentional or knowing murder after a jury trial. The victim's body was found at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park during a retreat. Witnesses testified that Lester had…

State of Maine v. Idris
Date: February 20, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 17

Justia Opinion Summary: Kulmiye Idris was convicted of gross sexual assault after a jury trial in Androscoggin County. The incident occurred on April 2, 2022, when Idris and the victim, who were close friends, attended a party. The victim…

State of Maine v. Fleury
Date: February 20, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 18

Justia Opinion Summary: Calixte Fleury was convicted of aggravated trafficking, unlawful trafficking, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, and operating under the influence. On September 18, 2020, Fleury was driving on I-95 when he crashed…

Armstrong v. State of Maine
Date: February 11, 2025
Citation: 2025 ME 12

Justia Opinion Summary: Aubrey Armstrong was convicted of felony murder and robbery following a bench trial in July 2018. He was sentenced to thirty years for felony murder and a concurrent thirty-year term for robbery, with all but twenty-nine…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

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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