- Maine Superior Court
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The Maine Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the Maine state court system.
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). The Court consists of 17 justices who all have statewide jurisdiction and travel to the different courthouses to hold court.[1] Justices are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate and are appointed to seven-year terms.[2]
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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, 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.[3]
Name Home Start of Term End of Term Notes Robert W. Clifford Lewiston, Maine January 1, 1984 August 1, 1986 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Morton A. Brody Waterville, Maine August 1, 1986 June 6, 1990 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Thomas E. Delahanty II Lewiston, Maine June 6, 1990 June 6, 1995 5 year term expired Roland A. Cole Wells, Maine June 7, 1995 June 30, 1997 2 year term expired Margaret J. Kravchuk Bangor, Maine July 1, 1997 June 30, 1999 2 year term expired Andrew A. Mead Bangor, Maine July 1, 1999 June 30, 2001 2 year term expired Nancy D. Mills Cornville, Maine July 1, 2001 September 1, 2004 Resigned as Chief Justice Thomas E. Humphrey Sanford, Maine September 1, 2004 Current justices
As of August 3, 2010, the justices of the Maine Superior Court were:
Name Date of Birth Birthplace Appointed By Start of Term Notes G. Arthur Brennan Joseph E. Brennan April 19, 1984[3] Paul A. Fritzsche Joseph E. Brennan July 31, 1986[3] Roland A. Cole Joseph E. Brennan September 25, 1986 Formerly on the Maine District Court; Served as Chief Justice of the Superior Court, June 7, 1995 - June 30, 1999[3] Nancy D. Mills[4] John R. McKernan, Jr. February 18, 1993 Formerly on the Maine District Court[3]; Served as Chief Justice of the Superior Court, July 1, 2001 - September 1, 2004 Robert E. Crowley John R. McKernan, Jr. June 14, 1993 Formerly on the Maine District Court; Retiring on August 31, 2010[3] Jeffrey L. Hjelm[5] Angus King September 2, 1998 Formerly on the Maine District Court[3] Thomas E. Humphrey (Chief Justice)[6][5] 1945 Angus King September 2, 1998 Formerly on the Maine District Court[3]; Appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court, September 1, 2004 Thomas D. Warren Angus King September 2, 1998[3] E. Allen Hunter Angus King October 26, 2001[3] Joyce A. Wheeler John Baldacci June 16, 2005 Formerly on the Maine District Court[3] Andrew M. Horton John Baldacci January 30, 2007 Formerly on the Maine District Court[3] Kevin M. Cuddy John Baldacci April 24, 2007[3] M. Michaela Murphy John Baldacci October 1, 2007[3] John Nivison John Baldacci October 1, 2007 Formerly chief judge on the Maine District Court[3] William R. Anderson John Baldacci February 21, 2008 Formerly on the Maine District Court[3] Active-retired justices of the Maine Superior Court:
Name Start Date of Active-Retired Status Notes William S. Brodrick April 24, 1995[3] Carl O. Bradford[7] September 2, 1998[3] S. Kirk Studstrup October 1, 2007[3] Donald H. Marden March 3, 2008[3] Robert W. Clifford September 1, 2009 Retired from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, but is sitting in the Superior Court[3] Former justices
Name Hometown Home County Start of Term End of Term Reason for Leaving Charles W. Goddard Cumberland February 28, 1871 November 4, 1871 Resigned Marquis DeLafayette Lane Cumberland November 4, 1871 September 15, 1872 Died in office Joseph W. Symonds Portland, Maine Cumberland September 28, 1872 October 16, 1878 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court William Penn Whitehouse Augusta, Maine Kennebec February 13, 1878 April 15, 1890 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Percival Bonney Cumberland October 16, 1878 August 4, 1906 Died in office William M. Robinson Aroostook March 25, 1885 July 1, 1893 Aroostook County Superior Court was abolished on July 1, 1893 Oliver G. Hall Kennebec April 24, 1890 April 26, 1911 Retired Levi Turner Cumberland September 21, 1906 February 19, 1911 Died in office Joseph E.F. Connolly Cumberland March 2, 1911 March 2, 1918 Term expired Lauren M. Sanborn Cumberland March 2, 1918 March 2, 1925 Term expired Fred Emery Beane Kennebec April 26, 1911 May 14, 1924 Retired (active retired) Henry W. Oakes Androscoggin July 16, 1917 March 31, 1928 Retired (active retired) Bertram L. Smith Penobscot July 16, 1919 November 4, 1924 Died in office William H. Fisher Augusta, Maine Kennebec May 21, 1924 August 31, 1940 Retired (active retired) George H. Worster Bangor, Maine Penobscot November 25, 1924 December 21, 1939 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Arthur Chapman Portland, Maine Cumberland March 12, 1925 November 4, 1942 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Harry Manser Auburn, Maine Androscoggin April 1, 1928 July 18, 1935 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court 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.
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George L. Emery Biddeford, Maine York January 1, 1930 October 2, 1944 Died in office James H. Hudson Guilford, Maine Piscataquis January 1, 1930 November 20, 1933 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Sidney St. F. Thaxter Portland, Maine Cumberland January 1, 1930 October 1, 1930 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Herbert T. Powers Fort Fairfield, Maine Aroostook October 1, 1930 July 1, 1941 Retired Herbert E. Holmes Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin November 20, 1933 May 6, 1935 Died in office Edward P. Murray Bangor, Maine Penobscot July 18, 1935 September 18, 1947 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Albert Beliveau Rumford, Maine Oxford July 18, 1935 March 3, 1954 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Raymond B. Fellows Bangor, Maine Penobscot December 10, 1939 May 1, 1946 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Robert A. Cony Augusta, Maine Kennebec October 31, 1940 January 1, 1945 Died in office Nathaniel Tompkins Houlton, Maine Aroostook October 9, 1941 August 23, 1945 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Arthur E. Sewall York, Maine York December 17, 1942 March 3, 1953 Retired (active retired) Earle L. Russell Cape Elizabeth, Maine Cumberland December 27, 1944 August 5, 1947 Died in office Edward F. Merrill Skowhegan, Maine Somerset February 1, 1945 June 2, 1948 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Robert B. Williamson Augusta, Maine Kennebec September 5, 1945 May 5, 1949 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Frank A. Tirrell, Jr. Rockland, Maine Knox May 15, 1946 March 18, 1953 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court William B. Nulty Portland, Maine Cumberland September 18, 1947 March 16, 1949 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Percy T. Clarke Ellsworth, Maine Hancock October 1, 1947 June 29, 1955 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Donald W. Webber Auburn, Maine Androscoggin September 1, 1948 October 8, 1953 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Francis W. Sullivan Cape Elizabeth, Maine Cumberland April 5, 1949 October 4, 1956 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Granville C. Gray Presque Isle, Maine Aroostook May 18, 1949 September 2, 1956 Died in office Harold C. Marden Waterville, Maine Kennebec March 3, 1953 December 19, 1962 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Randolph A. Weatherbee Hampden, Maine Penobscot March 25, 1953 December 21, 1966 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Cecil J. Siddall Sanford, Maine York August 19, 1953 May 7, 1958 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Leonard F. Williams Auburn, Maine Androscoggin November 4, 1953 March 30, 1964 Died in office Walter M. Tapley, Jr. Portland, Maine Cumberland March 3, 1954 May 5, 1954 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Abraham M. Rudman Bangor, Maine Penobscot June 9, 1954 May 30, 1965 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court F. Harold Dubord Waterville, Maine Kennebec June 29, 1955 October 4, 1956 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Charles A. Pomeroy Portland, Maine Cumberland October 4, 1956 July 2, 1969 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court James P. Archibald Houlton, Maine Aroostook October 4, 1956 January 27, 1971 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Armand A. Dufresne, Jr. Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin October 4, 1956 August 24, 1965 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court John P. Carey Bath, Maine Sagadahoc May 7, 1958 December 10, 1958 Resigned Thomas E. Delahanty Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin December 31, 1958 September 5, 1973 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court William S. Silsby Aurora, Maine Hancock December 20, 1961 August 2, 1972 Retired James L. Reid Augusta, Maine Kennebec December 28, 1962 September 1, 1975 Retired (active retired) Harold J. Rubin Bath, Maine Sagadahoc May 20, 1964 January 15, 1979 Retired Alton A. Lessard Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin August 24, 1965 August 2, 1974 Retired (medical disability) Lincoln Spencer Kennebunkport, Maine York August 24, 1965 September 1, 1977 Retired Albert Knudsen Portland, Maine Cumberland May 4, 1966 December 31, 1973 Retired Robert W. Clifford Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin June 8, 1979 August 1, 1986 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Thomas E. Delahanty II Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin November 4, 1983 June 30, 2010 Appointed as United States Attorney for the District of Maine Andrew M. Mead Bangor, Maine Penobscot May 28, 1992 April, 2007 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Ellen A. Gorman Durham, Maine Androscoggin March 30, 2000 October 1, 2007 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court Joseph A. Jabar Waterville, Maine Kennebec October 26, 2001 September 1, 2009 Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court See also
Reference list
- ^ Maine Judicial Branch :Superior Courts
- ^ Me. Const. art. V, § 8; Me. Const. art. VI, § 4
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Maine Superior Court Chronology". http://www.pierceatwood.com/files/816_SJC%20Chronology.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ Francis X. Quinn, McKernan Taps Dana for High Court Position, Mills, Murray Picked for Superior Court, Bangor Daily News, Jan. 7, 1993, available at 1993 WLNR 539755.
- ^ a b A. Jay Higgins, Senate OKs King's Appointees, Bangor Daily News, Aug. 19, 1998, available at 1998 WLNR 852504.
- ^ Hon. Thomas E. Humphrey - a Portland, Maine (ME) Lawyer
- ^ "Hon. Carl O. Bradford". FindLaw Lawyer Directory. http://pview.findlaw.com/view/2640021_1?noconfirm=0. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
External links
Categories:- Maine state courts
- United States law stubs
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