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Latest News
July 2, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court has established a high-profile case page for the matter of Avangrid Networks, Inc., et al. v. Secretary of State et al., an appeal from an order of the Superior Court (Cumberland County) dismissing Avangrid Networks' complaint seeking to enjoin the Secretary of State from placing a citizen initiative to reject the New England Clean Energy Connect Transmission Project on the November 3, 2020, ballot. The Court invites briefs of amici curiae. Details on the procedure for the matter are available on the high-profile case page and in the procedural order issued by the Court.
July 2, 2020: The Judicial Branch announced today an update to the State of Maine Judicial Branch COVID-19 Phased Management Plan, expanding the maximum number of people permitted in a courtroom from 10 to 50 beginning in Phase 3. Social distancing requirements will remain in effect.
June 18, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court has established a high-profile case page for the matter of Payne v. Secretary of State, a reported matter from the Superior Court on issues relating to the people's veto petition regarding An Act to Implement Ranked-choice Voting for Presidential Primary and General Elections in Maine, L.D. 1083 of the 129th Legislature. The Court invites briefs of amici curiae. Details on the procedure for the matter are available on the high-profile case page and in the procedural order issued by the Court.
June 15, 2020: Law Court invites amicus briefs on termination of parental rights of a parent who is unable to provide direct care of a child, when the child is
being cared for safely and appropriately
by relatives under a guardianship. Briefs due by July 13, 2020.
June 8, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a statement on efforts to deliver equal justice and combat racism.
June 5, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-2 to consolidate, clarify, correct, and ratify earlier emergency orders, including the administration of oaths at depositions conducted remotely via audio-video communication equipment and other matters.
June 4, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-4 to allow for the refund of fees paid to the Maine Board of Bar Examiners for the cancelled July examination dates under certain circumstances.
May 28, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-1 to incorporate the State of Maine Judicial Branch COVID-19 Phased Management Plan.
May 27, 2020: The Judicial Branch announced today the release of the State of Maine Judicial Branch COVID-19 Phased Management Plan. The plan creates a five-phased process for reopening Maine Courts and is based on the most recent scientific data available from the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and stakeholder input.
May 21, 2020: SJC invites comments on portions of the proposed Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems, including (1) proposed revisions to Rules 1 and 2 of the rules previously proposed as the Maine Digital Court Records Access Rules and (2) a newly proposed Rules of Electronic Filing and Service to govern the use of the courts' electronic filing system when it is implemented. Comments due by June 4, 2020.
May 20, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued a revision to PMO-SJC-2, providing additional clarity on the 49-day extension of due dates.
May 19, 2020: Court operations resumed in Portland on Monday, May 18, 2020 following cleaning and disinfecting and a negative COVID-19 test result. See Court Operations Resume in Portland.
May 18, 2020: The Maine Judicial Branch will host the second of two virtual sessions of the newly created Stakeholders Advisory Group on May 21, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. See Notice of May 21 Stakeholders Meeting.
May 15, 2020: Cumberland County Courts Closed Following Possible Case of COVID-19.
May 13, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued revisions to two Pandemic Management Orders. The revised orders replace and supersede previous orders.
- PMO-SJC-1: This revised order corrects errors in the previous order.
- PMO-SJC-2: This revised order provides that the provision creating the 49 day extension of due dates will not apply to due dates that occur after June 1.
May 12, 2020: The Maine Judicial Branch will host two virtual sessions of the newly created stakeholders advisory group, on May 14 and May 21, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. The purpose of the meetings is to obtain input and suggestions for continuing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to the courts. See Notice of Upcoming Stakeholders Meetings.
May 11, 2020: The Maine Judicial Branch, in collaboration with the Maine State Bar Association, is happy to announce the next Guardian ad Litem Core Training. Completion of this training is required to become a rostered guardian ad litem. The training will be entirely virtual and will consist of eight half-day sessions, starting on June 15, 2020. For more information and to access the application, see the For Rosted GALs web page.
May 5, 2020: The Maine Judicial Branch issued revisions to the Pandemic Management Orders (PMOs) today updating the measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency and include:
April 24, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court will stream the live audio of its video-conference oral argument in Reed v. Secretary of State, regarding the citizen initiative on the CMP corridor, on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., on its livestream page.
April 22, 2020: PMO-SJC-1 Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court was revised. This revised order extends the operative date regarding scheduling cases to May 15 from May 1 and expands the cases types that are eligible for scheduling and hearing during the effective dates of the order.
April 17, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued an order regarding petitions concerning control of notifiable diseases and conditions pursuant to Title 22, chapter 250. The Court has promulgated forms for the Notice of Hearing and Order for hearings held pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 820. See PMO-SJC-5 Order Regarding Petitions Concerning Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions.
April 16, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court has established a high-profile case page for the matter of Reed v. Secretary of State, the appeal from the Business and Consumer Docket order affirming the Secretary of State's determination that the citizen's initiative regarding the CMP Corridor had sufficient valid signatures to be placed on the ballot. The Court invites briefs of amici curiae. Details on the procedure for the matter are available on the high-profile case page and in the procedural order issued by the Court.
April 15, 2020: The Supreme Judicial Court issued an order rescheduling the Maine Bar Examination to Wednesday, September 30, and Thursday, October 1, 2020. See PMO-SJC-4 Order Regarding the Maine Bar Examination.
April 15, 2020: PMO-TC-1 Pandemic Management Order from the Maine Trial Court Chiefs Consolidating, Ratifying, and Superseding Previous Orders was revised.
April 14, 2020: PMO-SJC-1 Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court was revised.
April 14, 2020: The Maine Judicial Branch announced today that Senior Associate Supreme Court Justice Andrew M. Mead will "perform any and all duties of the Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court," pursuant to statute, following the resignation of Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley to become Dean of the University of Maine School of Law.
April 8, 2020: Courthouse Facilities Update regarding the York County Superior Courthouse in Alfred.
March 30, 2020: Effective immediately, the SJC and the Trial Chiefs have replaced the initial emergency orders with updated and clarified orders that are numbered for ease of reference. The prefix refers to the Court's Pandemic Management Orders.
The orders are:
March 22, 2020: Maine Judicial Branch Announces Reduction in Court Hours and Adjustments to Operations as Part of COVID-19 Response.
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