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Latest News
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 27, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine District Court issued an order to allow all mental health hearings scheduled in District Court pursuant to Title 34-B, sections 3864 and 3873-A, to be conducted via videoconference.
March 26, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court and District Court issued an order concerning jury trials, traverse jurors, and grand juries.
March 25, 2020: Effective immediately, and until further order of the Court, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued an order for the administering of oaths at depositions via remote audio-video communication equipment.
March 23, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court and District Court issued an order extending the due dates for payment of all fines, restitution, court fees, and reimbursement of court-appointed counsel fees.
March 22, 2020: Maine Judicial Branch Announces Reduction in Court Hours and Adjustments to Operations as Part of COVID-19 Response.
March 22, 2020: Courthouse Facilities Update regarding court hours of operations, the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, and York County Superior Courthouse in Alfred.
March 20, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court and District Court issued an order to accept all motions requesting the incarceration or the release of a criminal defendant by email sent to the Clerk and copied to opposing counsel.
March 18, 2020: Capital Judicial Center Temporarily Closed for Cleaning After Individual Reports Testing Presumptively Positive for COVID-19.
March 18, 2020: The Maine District Court issued an order regarding child protection proceedings.
March 18, 2020: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued a revised emergency order and notice regarding courthouse safety and coronavirus (COVID-19).
March 17, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court and District Court issued an order extending unexpired deadlines.
March 17, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued an order extending unexpired deadlines relating to Law Court appeals.
March 17, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court issued an order suspending all medical malpractice proceedings at least through May 1, 2020.
March 16, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court and District Court issued an order vacating outstanding warrants for unpaid fines, unpaid restitution, unpaid court-appointed counsel fees, failure to appear for upaid fine hearings, and any other failure to appear and pay other fees.
March 16, 2020: Effective immediately, the Maine Superior Court and District Court issued an order broadening any statutory definition (for purposes of Titles 18-C, 19-A, 22, or similar statute) of face-to-face or in person contact or interviews with children and families to include video and telephone contact.
March 13, 2020: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has issued an emergency order and notice regarding courthouse safety and coronavirus (COVID-19).
March 13, 2020: The Judicial Branch released a progress update on the implementation of Maine eCourts.
March 13, 2020: Law Court invites amicus briefs on timing of appeals in subsidiary "proceedings" within informal probate proceedings. Amicus briefs due by April 10, 2020.
March 9, 2020: The SJC has issued a statement announcing that it has concluded that no further amendment of Bar Rule 6, regarding use of IOLTA funds, is called for at this time.
February 28, 2020: Law Court invites amicus briefs on whether
redacted medical records of non-parties are discoverable in a civil action. Amicus briefs due March 30, 2020.
February 21, 2020: SJC to hold public hearing to receive oral comments regarding proposal to limit or prohibit use of IOLTA funds for legislative lobbying and political candidate activity. Hearing to be held on Monday, March 2, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 7 of the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta. Documents regarding the proposal are available at the link above.
January 28, 2020: Chief Justice Saufley delivered the State of the Judiciary address to the Legislature.
January 17, 2020: Law Court invites amicus briefs on whether a Maine court has jurisdiction over a criminal prosecution for 15 M.R.S. § 1092(1)(B), violation of condition of release, when the alleged violation, consisting entirely of contact with an identified person, occurred in another state. Amicus briefs due by February 19, 2020.
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