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)
Filters
Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
Almost all state courts recognize the importance of agencies’ expertise in policymaking.
SCOTUS’s 2nd Amendment Decision Leaves Open Questions for State Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the disarmament of a domestic abuser in United States v. Rahimi, but litigation over where to draw the line will continue.
Paths Toward Abolishing Qualified Immunity for Violations of State Constitutional Rights
States should not adopt the federal doctrine that shields officials from liability for civil rights violations.
Where Abortion Rights Could Be on the Ballot in 2024
As many as 11 states could have abortion-related constitutional amendments on the ballot this year.
Three U.S. Supreme Court Cases that Transformed State Judicial Elections
Judicial elections have become major political battlegrounds — complete with dark money, special interests, and attack ads — thanks to several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Every State Supreme Court Justice in One Searchable Database
A new resource from the State Law Research Initiative lets users sort the nation’s high court justices by state, professional background, party affiliation, and more.
State Constitutional Conventions Explained
The nation’s first constitutional convention in decades may take place in Louisiana this summer.
New Findings Highlight Lack of Diversity on State Supreme Courts
More data and further scholarship is needed to devise policies for promoting a state bench that adequately represents the varied background of the public.