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Court Rules
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On this page:
- Recent rule amendments and orders regarding rules
- Procedural rules
- Rules governing judges, lawyers, and guardians ad litem
- Other guides
Recent Rule Amendments & Orders Regarding Rules
Order Numbers | Rule Set Adopted or Amended | Rule Nos. Adopted or Amended | Subject | Effective Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Me. Rules 03 | Civil | 76G(c); 80B(l); 80C(l) | Discretion of court to determine not to hear oral arguments in administrative appeals | 3/16/21 |
No number | Electronic Court Records | n/a | Accessibility of pleadings entered into pilot program of Odyssey case management system | 3/1/2021-until further order of the court |
2021 Me. Rules 02 | Electronic Court Records | 2(A); 4(A) | Definition of "accept" or "acceptance"; time of entry of document into electronic case file; time of access by public of documents entered into file | 3/15/2021 |
2021 Me. Rules 01 | Civil | 89(c) | Practice of law by out-of-state attorneys who volunteer with legal services organizations | 1/22/2021 |
2020 Me. Rules 07 | Civil | 30(h); 31(d) | Depositions for use in foreign jurisdictions | 12/16/2020 |
2020 Me. Rules 06 | Electronic Court Systems | 1(A); 2(A)(14), (17); 4(A); 31(A), (C); 33(B), (C) (and (C) through (G) redesignated); 34(B)(2); 35(B); 37(D) | Applicability of rules to conventional filers in courts using electronic filing; date of accessibility of documents to public; exemptions from requirement to file electronically; technical amendments. | 12/14/20 |
2020 Me. Rules 05 | Civil | 130, 131, 133, 134, 138-140 | Electronic filing in the Business and Consumer Docket | 11/30/20 |
2020 Me. Rules 04 | Bar | Preamble & terminology; 1 | Executive Director of Board of Overseers | 10/26/20 |
2020 Me. Rules 03 | Electronic Court Systems | Entire set | Access to electronic court records; electronic filing and service of documents | 8/21/20 |
Procedural Rules
(Updated March 16, 2021)
- Maine Rules of Civil Procedure:
- Rules only--no advisory notes (March 2021)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (March 2021)
- Maine Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure
- Rules only--no advisory notes (May 2017)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (May 2017)
- Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (March 2021)
See also temporary standing order (Effective until further order of the court)
- Maine Rules of Evidence
- Rules only--no advisory notes (June 2018)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (June 2018)
- Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure
- Rules only--no advisory notes (June 2019)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (June 2019)
- Maine Rules of Probate Procedure (July 2019)
- Maine Rules of Small Claims Procedure (June 2007)
Rules Governing Judges, Lawyers, and Guardians ad Litem
(Updated October 26, 2020)
- Rules governing judges:
- Maine Code of Judicial Conduct only (no advisory notes) (September 2017)
- Maine Code of Judicial Conduct complete with advisory notes (September 2017)
- Maine Rules of the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability (September 2020)
- Rules governing lawyers:
- Maine Rules of Professional Conduct (ethical rules):
- Rules only--no advisory notes (June 2019)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (June 2019)
- Maine Bar Rules:
- Rules only--no advisory notes (October 2020)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (October 2020)
- Other rules governing lawyers:
- Maine Bar Admission Rules (May 2017)
- Rules for the Maine Assistance Program for Lawyers (November 2014)
- Rules for Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (April 2019)
- Maine Rules of Professional Conduct (ethical rules):
- Rules governing guardians ad litem:
- Rules only--no advisory notes (August 2019)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (August 2019)
- Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Commission (September 2019)
Other Guides
- Checklist for Preparing, Filing, and Maintaining an Appeal Pursuant to the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure (September 2017)
- Appellate Practice Guide for use with The Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure (restyled, effective September 1, 2017) (September 2017)
- A Guide for Appeals to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (August 2009). Note: This guide is based on the former rules, applicable to appeals filed before September 1, 2017.
- Maine Law Review: Uniform Maine Citations (2017) -- Uniform Maine Citations, 2016-2017 Edition, provides updated rules for the citation of Maine legal authorities, including judicial decisions, constitutional provisions, statutory and legislative materials, court rules, treatises, periodicals, and miscellaneous Maine authorities.