Maine

Maine’s highest court is the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is appointed with the same procedures as the associate justices. (Source: Maine Judicial Branch) 

Judicial Selection

The governor nominates justices to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The governor receives a list of candidates from a judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed justice serves a seven-year term. Justices may stand for additional terms through the same appointment process. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor receives a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission but is not required to select a candidate from the list. The nominee must be confirmed by joint legislative committee recommendation, subject to the ability of the Senate to override the committee recommendation by a 2/3 vote. An appointed justice serves a seven-year term. There are no term limits, nor is there a mandatory retirement age. 

State Constitution

Maine’s first and only constitution was adopted in 1819. As of January 1, 2024, it had 177 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)