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
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.
Scholarship Roundup: End of Semester Edition
Recent articles address states taking policy questions away from courts, standing in election cases, and state shadow dockets.
Maine High Court Upholds Centuries-Old Sunday Hunting Ban
The court rejected claims that the ban conflicted with a 2021 constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to food.
The Constitutional Right to Food
Maine’s protections could be used as a stealth vehicle to thwart gun restrictions.
In Maine, a 'Second Amendment for Food'?
A case challenging a Sunday hunting ban will help define the scope of a new constitutional amendment.
The Sorry State of Disclosure for State Supreme Court Justices
A new study reveals that disclosures by state supreme court justices are frequently hard to access and lack relevant financial information.
Why Have States Diverged on Trump’s Ballot Eligibility?
As the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether Trump should be disqualified from the 2024 ballot, it’s worth exploring how state law has impacted outcomes in different states.
Unpacking the Legal Challenges to Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
The vast majority of cases aiming to remove Trump from the ballot have been dismissed, but without deciding whether he’s eligible to hold the presidency.