COURT ALERTS IN EFFECT. Administrative Office of the Courts
Office of the State Court Administrator
Amy Quinlan, Esq., State Court Administrator
The State Court Administrator (SCA) directs the Administrative Office of the Courts and is appointed by the Chief Justice. The SCA must have skill in leadership, management, planning and administration. The position oversees the Judicial Branch budget and all real estate, facilities, personnel, information services, court security, and court operations for the Judicial Branch.
The AOC has five major divisions that report to the SCA: Finance and Administration, Information and Technology, Court Operations, Court Communications, Court Process, Programs and Services.
Finance and Administration
Thomas Hild, Chief of Finance and Administration
This division is comprised of four major areas and handles the Judicial Branch’s fiscal, personnel, facility, and security needs:
Budget and Accounting
Provides financial services to the Judicial Branch, including managing and planning budgets, preparing financial reports, forecasts and account analysis, performing internal audits, processing vendor invoices, contracts, and managing daily cash and collection activity.
Court Facilities
Responsible for maintaining thirty-six (36) court facilities, some of which are state-owned, some county-owned and some leased. Responsibilities include planning, budgeting and prioritization of projects and resources. Staff includes the Director of Court Facilities and four facility engineers. Staff serve as project leaders or coordinators for repairs, renovations, everyday building issues, and may actively participate in new courthouse construction. The office is also responsible for developing a variety of service contracts for all state-owned facilities and some of the leased space. Court Facilities handles all office furniture requests.
Human Resources
Develops and enforces the Judicial Branch’s human resource policies, manages labor relations, assists with recruitment, processes payroll and benefits, promotes wellness and safety services, and provides training and development services to Judicial Branch employees.
Judicial Marshals
Provides for the safety and security of staff and visitors at Maine court facilities. The office is a State Law Enforcement Agency comprising more than 120 certified law enforcement officers. Responsibilities include entry screening at courthouse doors, security and safety within courtrooms and other area in courthouses, judicial protection, criminal history background checks on all employees and contractors, threat investigations, and after-hour emergency response.
Information and Technology
David Packard, Chief Information Officer
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) delivers reliable, cost effective, and secure IT services to the Judicial Branch. Ongoing activities include provisioning, developing and maintaining enterprise and desktop software applications, data centers, networks, computers, courtroom AV, video conferencing and phones, operating a help desk, and managing information security.
Three functional areas deliver and manage these technical services:
- Infrastructure and Technology - supported by system administrators, field technicians, and helpdesk technicians;
- Application Development and Implementation - supported by business analysts; Application Developers, Trainers, and Helpdesk Technicians; and
- Information Technology Projects – supported by project managers and quality assurance testers.
Court Operations
Michelle Ardabily, Esq., Chief of Court Operations
Elizabeth Maddaus, Esq., Director of Court Operations
The Office of Court Operations provides support, supervision, and resources for the offices of the Clerks of Court in the District and Superior Courts, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Business and Consumer Docket. Comprising 254 employees, Court Operations has five major units:
- Clerks of Court;
- Court Operations Analysts;
- Court Operations Specialists;
- Field Operations Specialists; and
- Managers of Cumberland, Penobscot and York County Court Operations.
Staff provide new employees with hands-on training and Clerks of Court with regular updates to best practices and procedures as well as other up-to-date resources. Staff are available to trouble-shoot challenges as they arise in the field. Court Operations is part of the team developing Maine Odyssey for e-filing and digital case management.
Court Communications
Barbara Cardone, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations
The Court Communications Office handles communications within and outside the Maine Judicial Branch. Internal communications include quarterly newsletters, website news releases, and intranet and court form updates. External communications include various informational guides and booklets, the Judicial Branch’s annual report, website content, constituent and media communications, press releases, and media advisories. Communications staff track legislation, work with the Judicial Branch’s leadership to identify impacts on the Branch, and provide testimony as needed at the Maine Legislature. Staff within the Communications unit include the Director, the Court Communications Coordinator who serves as the Branch’s webmaster, the Legal Publications Specialist, and the Legislative Liaison.
Court Services
Jenny Anderson, Esq., Director of Court Services
This position directs three major areas of court administration: case processing, court services, and strategic planning for both case process improvement and court services. The Director ensures coordination among the case category managers of civil, criminal and family matters and works closely with information technology and court operations to achieve accuracy and efficiency in court processes and case flow management. The following staff units report to the Director:
- Court Services;
- Civil Process;
- Criminal Process and Specialty Dockets; and
- Family Division.