Maine Courts Response to COVID-19

Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Management Orders

Starting in March 2020, the Judicial Branch issued a series of Pandemic Management Orders (PMOs) and Post-Pandemic Management Orders (PPMOs) to address health and safety concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and to make necessary changes to court practices, processes, and procedures as a result of the pandemic.

As the circumstances of the pandemic and the needs of the courts have changed, beginning in 2023, the Judicial Branch revised and rescinded several of the PMOs and PPMOs. In addition, because many of the practices, processes, and procedures implemented by the PMOs proved to be effective and efficient, the Supreme Judicial Court determined to continue some of the practices, processes, and procedures in PMOs that remain in effect. The Court has also incorporated some provisions from prior PMOs into Administrative Orders (referenced below).

• PPMO-SJC-1: Administrative Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Court
  (Rev. March 30, 2023). PPMO-SJC-1 was initially issued on June 1, 2021. PPMO-SJC-1 has been revised several times. The provisions of PPMO-SJC-1 that are currently in effect are:
  • (D) Courthouse Case Scheduling;
  • (F) Order Regarding the Timely Filing of Criminal Complaints and Limits on the Number of Persons Assigned a Specific Arraignment Date; and
  • (G) Oral Arguments in the Supreme Judicial Court; and
  • (I) List of PMOs Rescinded.
• PPMO-SJC-2: Order Regarding Trial Court Remote Proceedings (June 1, 2021)
• PMO-SJC-2: Order Consolidating, Ratifying, and Superseding Previous Orders (Rev. March 30, 2023). The revised PMO-SJC-2 rescinds sections (B), (C), (D), and (E). Provisions currently in effect are:
  • (A) The Administration of Oaths at Depositions;
  • (F) Emergency Order Regarding Oral Depositions in Civil Cases; and
  • (G) Emergency Order Regarding Electronic Signatures.
• PMO-SJC-3: Order Regarding Submission of Documents by Email (Rev. March 30, 2023).
  The revised PMO-SJC-3 replaces and supersedes prior revised PMO-SJC-3 and PMO-SJC-3A. The effective date of revised PMO-SJC-3 is April 24, 2023.
• PMO-SJC-8: Emergency Rules on the Waiver of Initial Appearances and Arraignments (Rev. June 21, 2023).

Related Administrative Orders

• AO JB-23-01 (Withdrawl of Administrative Orders JB-05-12, JB-15-04, JB-21-01,
  and JB-21-02)
• AO JB-23-02 (Order Regarding Health Requirements for Courthouse Entry) (Withdrawn, see JB-24-01)
• AO JB-05-04 (A. 3-23) (Hours of Operation)
• AO JB-05-16 (A. 4-23) (Use of Cellular Phones, Pagers, Computers, and Other Electronic Devices in Courthouses)
• AO JB-05-11 (A. 3-23) (Access to Clerks' Offices, Computer Terminals, and Court Files

Rescinded PMOs

The following PMOs were previously or are now rescinded:

• PMO-SJC-1 (compendium of multiple provisions);
• PMO-SJC-2(B) through (E) (governing electronic filing of certain motions directly bearing on a defendant's liberty interests, termination dates for extended deadlines, and face-to-face or in‑person contacts with children and families);
• PMO-SJC-5 (quarantine procedures);
• PMO-SJC-6 (prescribing emergency rules for forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases)
• PMO-SJC-7 (remote proceedings and public access);
• PMO-SJC-9 (screening questions upon entry to a court facility);
• PMO-SJC-10 (procedures for hearing child protection cases); and,
• PMO-SJC-11(extending continuing legal education deadlines).
• PMO-SJC-12 (creating a pilot project for stand-alone small claims mediation)
• PMO-SJC-4 (Administration of the 2021 Maine Bar Exam) is no longer in effect.