State of Maine Judicial Branch

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April 22, 2019: SJC invites comments on a proposed amendment to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure regarding jurors. Comments due by May 6, 2019

April 11, 2019: The SJC has adopted amendments to the Maine Rules of Probate Procedure regarding use of official forms. Amendments will be effective on July 1, 2019.

April 10, 2019: SJC invites comments on a proposed amendment to the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure to classify appeals from denials of motions to modify probation conditions as criminal discretionary appeals. Comments due by April 24, 2019.

April 3, 2019: SJC invites comments on a proposed amendment to the Maine Rules for Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection to increase the maximum amount of reimbursement available per lawyer. Comments due by April 17, 2019.

March 19, 2019: The first meeting of the Pre-Trial Justice Reform Task Force will take place on Wednesday April 3, 2019. The meeting will take place from 1-3 pm in the Chamberlain Conference Room, Capital Judicial Center, 1 Court Street Augusta, ME. The meeting is open to the public.

March 11, 2019: SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure to require electronic copies of all transcripts filed in support of an appeal and to make appeals from juvenile matters Track A expedited appeals. Comments due by April 1, 2019.

February 27, 2019: SJC invites comments on drafts of Digital Court Records Access Rules and related amendments to the Maine Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure and the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, including Family Division Rules. Comments due by noon on March 27, 2019.

February 26, 2019: Chief Justice Saufley delivered the State of the Judiciary address to the Legislature.

February 25, 2019: On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, the Advisory Committees on Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure, and Family Rules will hold separate meetings to discuss the preliminary draft of new court rules that address access to digital court records. Read full text of notice and scheduled meeting times here.

February 22, 2019: Media Advisory — Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley will give her annual State of the Judiciary address on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. Read full text of notice here.

January 25, 2019: Law Court invites amicus briefs on effect of a mortgagee's bankruptcy on ownership of the mortgage. Briefs due by March 8, 2019.

January 25, 2019: The Adult Drug Court Advisory Committee received the Judicial Branch Special Service Award in recognition of their significant contribution to improvements in the operation and performance of the Judicial Branch.

January 14, 2019: SJC invites comments on its planned proposal to the Legislature to adopt the "Digital Court Records Access Act," which would address the case types, documents, and information that will be accessible by the public as the courts' new electronic case management system is implemented. Comments due on or before January 25, 2019. Read full text of notice here.

January 7, 2019: SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to the Maine Bar Rules regarding continuing legal education. Comments due on or before February 22, 2019. [On January 18, the SJC extended the time for comments; the deadline was previously January 22, 2019.]

December 20, 2018: Supreme Court Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley recently announced the recipients of this year’s Judicial Branch Performance Council employee and volunteer recognition awards.

December 4, 2018: Wednesday, December 5, has been declared a National Day of Mourning in recognition of the death of the 41st American President. The Maine Judicial Branch joins the entire country in mourning the death of former President George H.W. Bush. All flags will be flown at half mast in recognition of President Bush's passing. While some offices of State and Federal Government have announced that they will be closed tomorrow, Maine's Judicial Branch, as an essential service, will be open as usual.