Maine Superior Court

The Maine Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the Maine state court system.[1]

All state jury trials are held in the Superior Court. The court is located in each of Maine's 16 counties (with two locations in Aroostook County), in eight judicial regions.[2] The Court consists of 18 justices who all have statewide jurisdiction and travel to the different courthouses to hold court, with a number of active retired judges as well.[3][4][5] Justices are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate and are appointed to seven-year terms.[6][7]

Maine's Supreme Judicial Court created a statewide Business and Consumer Docket (BCD),[8][9] which includes within its jurisdiction complex case types that might be found on other states' business and commercial court dockets; but also includes, for example, class actions and complex consumer rights cases arising out of business or government dealings. Cases eligible for this specialized docket are cases that could otherwise have been heard in the Superior Court or Maine's District Court.[10][11] The BCD has a distinct set of procedural rules.[12] The BCD has two assigned judges from either the Superior or District Courts, who are designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.[13][14] As of June 2024, the current BCD judges are Superior Court judge Thomas McKeon and District Court judge Michael A. Duddy.[15] Then Superior Court Chief Justice Thomas E. Humphrey was one of the first BCD judges,[16] along with District Court Chief Justice John C. Nivison.[17][18][19]

Chief Justices of the Maine Superior Court

The position of Chief Justice of the Maine Superior Court was authorized by the Maine Legislature, 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.[20]

Chief justice Start of term End of term
Robert W. Clifford January 1, 1984 August 1, 1986
Morton A. Brody August 1, 1986 June 6, 1990
Thomas E. Delahanty II June 6, 1990 June 6, 1995
Roland A. Cole June 7, 1995 June 30, 1997
Margaret J. Kravchuk July 1, 1997 June 30, 1999
Andrew A. Mead July 1, 1999 June 30, 2001
Nancy D. Mills July 1, 2001 September 1, 2004
Thomas E. Humphrey September 1, 2004 April 29, 2015
Roland A. Cole June 10, 2015 2018
Robert Mullen 2018 present

Current justices

As of April 20, 2023, the justices of the Maine Superior Court are:[21]

# Name Residence County Began service First appointed by
107 M. Michaela Murphy Rome Kennebec October 1, 2007 John Baldacci
110 Ann M. Murray Bangor Penobscot August 25, 2010 John Baldacci
111 Robert Murray Bangor Penobscot August 25, 2010 John Baldacci
112 MaryGay Kennedy Auburn Androscoggin August 25, 2010 John Baldacci
113 John O'Neil Kennebunk York September 27, 2011 Paul LePage
114 Daniel Billings Bowdoinham Sagadahoc March 18, 2014 Paul LePage
115 Robert Mullen Waterville Kennebec March 18, 2014 Paul LePage
118 Bruce C. Mallonee Bangor Penobscot June 10, 2015 Paul LePage
120 Harold Stewart II Portland Cumberland April 4, 2016 Paul LePage
122 Stephen Nelson Houlton Aroostook January 30, 2020 Janet Mills
123 Thomas McKeon Falmouth Cumberland January 30, 2020 Janet Mills
124 Richard W. Mulhern Falmouth Cumberland February 25, 2021 Janet Mills
125 Deborah P. Cashman West Bath Sagadahoc January 26, 2022 Janet Mills
126 Julia M. Lipez Cape Elizabeth Cumberland April 5, 2022 Janet Mills
127 Patrick Larson Bangor Penobscot February 16, 2023 Janet Mills
128 Jennifer Archer Falmouth Cumberland April 18, 2023 Janet Mills
129 James Martemucci Arundel York April 20, 2023 Janet Mills

Active-retired justices of the Maine Superior Court:

Former justices

The former justices of the court are:[20][22]

# Name Residence County Began service Ended service First appointed by Reason for termination
1 Charles W. Goddard Portland Cumberland February 28, 1871 November 4, 1871 Sidney Perham resigned
2 Marquis DeLafayette Lane Portland Cumberland November 4, 1871 September 15, 1872 Sidney Perham death
3 Joseph W. Symonds Portland Cumberland September 28, 1872 October 16, 1878 Sidney Perham elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
4 William Penn Whitehouse Augusta Kennebec February 13, 1878 April 15, 1890 Seldon Connor elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
5 Percival Bonney Portland Cumberland October 16, 1878 August 4, 1906 Seldon Connor death
6 William M. Robinson Houlton Aroostook March 25, 1885 July 1, 1893 Frederick Robie seat abolished
7 Oliver G. Hall Waterville Kennebec April 24, 1890 April 26, 1911 Edwin C. Burleigh retired
8 Levi Turner Portland Cumberland September 21, 1906 February 19, 1911 William T. Cobb death
9 Joseph E. F. Connolly Portland Cumberland March 2, 1911 March 2, 1918 Frederick W. Plaisted term expired
10 Fred Emery Beane Hallowell Kennebec April 26, 1911 May 14, 1924 Frederick W. Plaisted retired (active retired)
11 Henry W. Oakes Auburn Androscoggin July 16, 1917 March 31, 1928 Carl Milliken retired (active retired)
12 Lauren M. Sanborn South Portland Cumberland March 2, 1918 March 2, 1925 Carl Milliken term expired
13 Bertram L. Smith Patten Penobscot July 16, 1919 November 4, 1924 Carl Milliken death
14 William H. Fisher Augusta Kennebec May 21, 1924 August 31, 1940 Percival P. Baxter retired (active retired)
15 George H. Worster Bangor Penobscot November 25, 1924 December 21, 1939 Percival P. Baxter elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
16 Arthur Chapman Portland Cumberland March 12, 1925 November 4, 1942 Owen Brewster elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
17 Harry Manser Auburn Androscoggin April 1, 1928 July 18, 1935 Owen Brewster elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
18 George L. Emery Biddeford York January 1, 1930 October 2, 1944 William Tudor Gardiner death
19 James H. Hudson Guilford Piscataquis January 1, 1930 November 20, 1933 William Tudor Gardiner elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
20 Sidney St. F. Thaxter Portland Cumberland January 1, 1930 October 1, 1930 William Tudor Gardiner elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
21 Herbert T. Powers Fort Fairfield Aroostook October 1, 1930 July 1, 1941 William Tudor Gardiner retired
22 Herbert E. Holmes Lewiston Androscoggin November 20, 1933 May 6, 1935 Louis J. Brann death
23 Edward P. Murray Bangor Penobscot July 18, 1935 September 18, 1947 Louis J. Brann elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
24 Albert Beliveau Rumford Oxford July 18, 1935 March 3, 1954 Louis J. Brann elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
25 Raymond B. Fellows Bangor Penobscot December 10, 1939 May 1, 1946 Lewis O. Barrows elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
26 Robert A. Cony Augusta Kennebec October 31, 1940 January 1, 1945 Lewis O. Barrows death
27 Nathaniel Tompkins Houlton Aroostook October 9, 1941 August 23, 1945 Sumner Sewall elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
28 Arthur E. Sewall York York December 17, 1942 March 3, 1953 Sumner Sewall retired (active retired)
29 Earle L. Russell Cape Elizabeth Cumberland December 27, 1944 August 5, 1947 Sumner Sewall death
30 Edward F. Merrill Skowhegan Somerset February 1, 1945 June 2, 1948 Horace Hildreth elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
31 Robert B. Williamson Augusta Kennebec September 5, 1945 May 5, 1949 Horace Hildreth elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
32 Frank A. Tirrell Jr. Rockland Knox May 15, 1946 March 18, 1953 Horace Hildreth elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
33 William B. Nulty Portland Cumberland September 18, 1947 March 16, 1949 Horace Hildreth elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
34 Percy T. Clarke Ellsworth Hancock October 1, 1947 June 29, 1955 Horace Hildreth elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
35 Donald W. Webber Auburn Androscoggin September 1, 1948 October 8, 1953 Horace Hildreth elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
36 Francis W. Sullivan Cape Elizabeth Cumberland April 5, 1949 October 4, 1956 Frederick G. Payne elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
37 Granville C. Gray Presque Isle Aroostook May 18, 1949 September 2, 1956 Frederick G. Payne death
38 Harold C. Marden Waterville Kennebec March 3, 1953 December 19, 1962 Burton M. Cross elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
39 Randolph Weatherbee Hampden Penobscot March 25, 1953 December 21, 1966 Burton M. Cross elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
40 Cecil J. Siddall Sanford York August 19, 1953 May 7, 1958 Burton M. Cross elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
41 Leonard F. Williams Auburn Androscoggin November 4, 1953 March 30, 1964 Burton M. Cross death
42 Walter M. Tapley Jr. Portland Cumberland March 3, 1954 May 5, 1954 Burton M. Cross elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
43 Abraham M. Rudman Bangor Penobscot June 9, 1954 May 30, 1965 Burton M. Cross elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
44 F. Harold Dubord Waterville Kennebec June 29, 1955 October 4, 1956 Edmund Muskie elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
45 Charles A. Pomeroy Portland Cumberland October 4, 1956 July 2, 1969 Edmund Muskie elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
46 James Archibald Houlton Aroostook October 4, 1956 January 27, 1971 Edmund Muskie elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
47 Armand A. Dufresne Jr. Lewiston Androscoggin October 4, 1956 August 24, 1965 Edmund Muskie elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
48 John P. Carey Bath Sagadahoc May 7, 1958 December 10, 1958 Edmund Muskie resigned
49 Thomas E. Delahanty Lewiston Androscoggin December 31, 1958 September 5, 1973 Edmund Muskie elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
50 William S. Silsby Aurora Hancock December 20, 1961 August 2, 1972 John H. Reed retired
51 James L. Reid Augusta Kennebec December 28, 1962 September 1, 1975 John H. Reed retired (active retired)
52 Harold J. Rubin Bath Sagadahoc May 20, 1964 January 15, 1979 John H. Reed retired
53 Alton A. Lessard Lewiston Androscoggin August 24, 1965 August 2, 1974 John H. Reed retired (medical disability)
54 Lincoln Spencer Kennebunkport York August 24, 1965 September 1, 1977 John H. Reed retired
55 Albert Knudsen Portland Cumberland May 4, 1966 December 31, 1973 John H. Reed retired
56 David G. Roberts Bangor Penobscot March 1, 1967 January 11, 1980 Kenneth M. Curtis elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
57 Sidney W. Wernick Portland Cumberland July 2, 1969 September 30, 1970 Kenneth M. Curtis elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
58 William E. McCarthy Rumford Oxford October 8, 1969 April 8, 1984 Kenneth M. Curtis retired
59 Lewis I. Naiman Gardiner Kennebec September 30, 1970 December 31, 1979 Kenneth M. Curtis retired
60 James A. Bishop Presque Isle Aroostook January 27, 1971 July 16, 1977 Kenneth M. Curtis death
61 Ian MacInnes Bangor Penobscot December 22, 1971 October 10, 1983 Kenneth M. Curtis retired (active retired)
62 Harry P. Glassman Portland Cumberland January 2, 1972 August 31, 1979 Kenneth M. Curtis elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
63 Edward Stern Bangor Penobscot January 3, 1973 June 20, 1980 Kenneth M. Curtis retired
64 Elmer H. Violette Van Buren Aroostook September 5, 1973 August 31, 1981 Kenneth M. Curtis elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
65 Sumner J. Goffin Portland Cumberland October 10, 1983 December 22, 1984 Kenneth M. Curtis retired
66 Robert L. Browne Bangor Penobscot March 20, 1974 November 26, 1984 Kenneth M. Curtis retired (active retired)
67 Louis Scolnik Lewiston Androscoggin October 10, 1974 September 7, 1973 Kenneth M. Curtis elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
68 David A. Nichols Lincolnville Waldo October 1, 1975 May 23, 1977 James B. Longley elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
69 Stephen L. Perkins South Portland Cumberland September 16, 1977 April 30, 1993 James B. Longley retired (active retired)
70 Herbert T. Silsby II Ellsworth Hancock September 16, 1977 February 28, 1992 James B. Longley retired
71 Daniel Wathen Augustua Kennebec September 16, 1977 August 31, 1981 James B. Longley elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
72 Robert W. Clifford Lewiston Androscoggin June 8, 1979 August 1, 1986 James B. Longley elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
73 William E. McKinley Portland Cumberland January 11, 1979 January 31, 1990 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
74 Donald G. Alexander Mount Vernon Kennebec February 15, 1980 September 2, 1998 Joseph E. Brennan elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
75 Jessie Briggs Gunther Milo Piscataquis April 11, 1980 February 1, 1986 Joseph E. Brennan resigned
76 Morton A. Brody Waterville Kennebec July 18, 1980 July 6, 1990 Joseph E. Brennan elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
77 Carl O. Bradford Yarmouth Cumberland October 23, 1981 August 31, 1998 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
78 William S. Brodrick Berwick York December 9, 1981 February 28, 1995 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
79 Thomas E. Delahanty II Lewiston Androscoggin November 4, 1983 June 30, 2010 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
80 Paul T. Pierson Caribou Aroostook January 17, 1984 June 30, 2001 Joseph E. Brennan retired
81 G. Arthur Brennan York York April 19, 1984 August 26, 2011 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
82 Bruce W. Chandler China Kennebec September 21, 1984 September 30, 1994 Joseph E. Brennan retired
83 Eugene W. Beaulieu Old Town Penobscot January 29, 1985 January 17, 1992 Joseph E. Brennan resigned
84 Kermit Lipez South Portland Cumberland June 14, 1985 May 12, 1994 Joseph E. Brennan elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
85 Jack O. Smith Ellsworth Hancock March 27, 1986 September 30, 1992 Joseph E. Brennan retired
86 Paul A. Fritzsche Pownal Cumberland July 31, 1986 July 2015 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
87 Roland A. Cole Wells York September 25, 1986 December 31, 2019 Joseph E. Brennan retired (active retired)
88 Margaret J. Kravchuk Bangor Penobscot March 27, 1990 January 31, 2000 John R. McKernan Jr. resigned
89 Andrew Mead Bangor Penobscot May 28, 1992 March 22, 2007 John R. McKernan Jr. elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
90 Nancy D. Mills Cornville Somerset February 18, 1993 December 31, 2019 John R. McKernan Jr. retired (active retired)
91 Leigh Saufley Portland Cumberland April 9, 1993 October 20, 1997 John R. McKernan Jr. elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
92 Francis C. Marsano Belfast Waldo April 9, 1993 October 9, 2001 John R. McKernan Jr. retired
93 Robert E. Crowley Kennebunk York June 14, 1993 August 31, 2010 John R. McKernan Jr. retired
94 John R. Atwood Damariscotta Lincoln May 17, 1994 April 29, 2005 John R. McKernan Jr. retired
95 Donald H. Marden Waterville Kennebec December 8, 1994 January 1, 2008 John R. McKernan Jr. retired (active retired)
96 Susan W. Calkins Portland Cumberland May 31, 1995 September 2, 1998 Angus King elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
97 S. Kirk Studstrup Augusta Kennebec October 20, 1997 October 1, 2007 Angus King retired (active retired)
98 Jeffrey Hjelm Dixmont Penobscot September 2, 1998 August 1, 2014 Angus King elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
99 Thomas E. Humphrey Sanford York September 2, 1998 June 9, 2015 Angus King elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
100 Thomas D. Warren Brunswick Cumberland September 2, 1998 December 31, 2021 Angus King retired (active retired)
101 Ellen Gorman Durham Androscoggin March 30, 2000 October 1, 2007 Angus King elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
102 E. Allen Hunter Caribou Aroostook October 26, 2001 2015 Angus King retired (active retired)
103 Joseph Jabar Waterville Kennebec October 26, 2001 September 1, 2009 Angus King elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
104 Joyce A. Wheeler Kittery York June 16, 2005 April 2015 John Baldacci retired (active retired)
105 Andrew M. Horton Falmouth Cumberland January 30, 2007 February 4, 2020 John Baldacci elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
106 Kevin M. Cuddy Holden Penobscot April 24, 2007 2014 John Baldacci retired
108 John C. Nivison Winslow Kennebec October 1, 2007 January 2014 John Baldacci resigned
109 William R. Anderson Morrill Waldo February 21, 2008 November 23, 2022 John Baldacci retired
116 William R. Stokes Augusta Kennebec July 31, 2014 2023 Paul LePage retired (active retired)
117 Lance E. Walker South Paris Oxford June 10, 2015 October 17, 2018 Paul LePage elevated to D. Me.
119 Wayne R. Douglas Biddeford York June 10, 2015 March 10, 2023 Paul LePage elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
121 Valerie Stanfill Wayne Kennebec January 8, 2020 June 8, 2021 Janet Mills elevated to Maine Supreme Judicial Court

See also

Reference list

  1. ^ "Superior Court; civil jurisdiction (Maine Revised Statutes Title 4, §105)". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  2. ^ "Superior Court: State of Maine Judicial Branch". www.courts.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  3. ^ "Constitution of court (Maine Revised Statutes Title 4, §101)". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  4. ^ "Superior Court: State of Maine Judicial Branch". www.courts.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  5. ^ "Justice or Active Retired Justice of Superior Court assigned to sit in District Court (Maine Revised Statutes Title 4 §121)". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  6. ^ Me. Const. art. V, § 8; Me. Const. art. VI, § 4
  7. ^ "About: State of Maine Judicial Branch". www.courts.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  8. ^ "Business and Consumer Court: State of Maine Judicial Branch". www.courts.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  9. ^ "Maine Rule of Civil Procedure 130" (PDF).
  10. ^ "District Court; civil jurisdiction (Maine Revised Statutes Title 4, §152)". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  11. ^ "District Court: State of Maine Judicial Branch". www.courts.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  12. ^ "Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter XIV, Business and Consumer Docket Procedural Rules (130-138)".
  13. ^ "State of Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Administrative Order JB-07-1 (A. 11-08), Establishment of the Business and Consumer Docket" (PDF). November 17, 2008.
  14. ^ "Maine Rule of Civil Procedure 130" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Business and Consumer Court: State of Maine Judicial Branch". www.courts.maine.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  16. ^ Humphrey, Justice Thomas (January 30, 2018). "Fiber Materials, Inc. v. Maurice Subilia, et. al., Business and Consumer Court, Docket No. BCD-WB-07-317" (PDF).
  17. ^ "Colby grad, Winslow resident Nivison promoted to federal bench". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  18. ^ "Key Equipment Finance, Inc. v. Benjamin Hawkins, et al., Business and Consumer Docket, Docket No. BCD-WB-CIV-07-017" (PDF).
  19. ^ Chief Justice Superior Court Thomas E. Humphrey & Chief Justice District Court John C. Nivison (June 1, 2007). "State of Maine Business and Consumer Docket, Standing Order Regarding Transfers of Venue" (PDF).
  20. ^ a b "Maine Superior Court Chronology" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  21. ^ "Superior Court Justices". State of Maine Judicial Branch. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  22. ^ "Senate Records". Maine State Legislature. Retrieved November 18, 2023.