Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Encyclopedia
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine
's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court
, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor
and confirmed by the Maine Senate
. Justice
s serve for seven year terms, with no limit on the number of terms that they may serve.
The Maine Court is one of the few state Supreme Courts
in the United States authorized to issue advisory opinions. Such opinions are issued at the request of the Governor or Legislature, as set out in the Maine Constitution
. It is also unusual for a state's highest appellate court in that its primary location is not that of the state's capital city.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court
Court of Appeals
A court of appeals is an appellate court generally.Court of Appeals may refer to:*Military Court of Appeals *Corte d'Assise d'Appello *Philippine Court of Appeals*High Court of Appeals of Turkey*United States courts of appeals...
, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
and confirmed by the Maine Senate
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
. Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
s serve for seven year terms, with no limit on the number of terms that they may serve.
The Maine Court is one of the few state Supreme Courts
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
in the United States authorized to issue advisory opinions. Such opinions are issued at the request of the Governor or Legislature, as set out in the Maine Constitution
Maine Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Maine established the "State of Maine" in 1820 and is the fundamental governing document of the state. It consists of a Preamble and ten Articles , the first of which is a "Declaration of Rights"....
. It is also unusual for a state's highest appellate court in that its primary location is not that of the state's capital city.
Current justices
As of April 20, 2011, the justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court were:| Name | Date of Birth | Birthplace | Appointed By | Beginning Service | Prior Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh Ingalls Saufley (Chief Justice) | 1954 | Angus King Angus King Angus S. King, Jr. served two terms as the 72nd Governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003. Since 2004, King has been a distinguished lecturer at Bowdoin College teaching a course called "Leaders and Leadership"; in the fall of 2009, he also taught a similar course at Bates College... |
October 20, 1997 | ||
| Joseph Jabar | Waterville, Maine Waterville, Maine Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center.... |
John E. Baldacci | September 1, 2009 | Superior Court | |
| Donald G. Alexander Donald G. Alexander Donald G. Alexander is an American lawyer and a justice on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He has degrees from Bowdoin College and the University of Chicago Law School.-Biography:... |
Angus King Angus King Angus S. King, Jr. served two terms as the 72nd Governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003. Since 2004, King has been a distinguished lecturer at Bowdoin College teaching a course called "Leaders and Leadership"; in the fall of 2009, he also taught a similar course at Bates College... |
September 2, 1998 | |||
| Ellen A. Gorman | John E. Baldacci | October 1, 2007 | |||
| Jon D. Levy | 1954 | New York, New York | Angus King Angus King Angus S. King, Jr. served two terms as the 72nd Governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003. Since 2004, King has been a distinguished lecturer at Bowdoin College teaching a course called "Leaders and Leadership"; in the fall of 2009, he also taught a similar course at Bates College... |
March 7, 2002 | |
| Warren M. Silver Warren M. Silver Warren M. Silver is an American lawyer and state supreme court justice.Silver attended Presque Isle High School and earned his undergraduate degree at Tufts University. He followed his undergraduate work by studying law at American University's Washington College of Law... |
1948 | Presque Isle, Maine Presque Isle, Maine Presque Isle is the commercial center and largest city in the sparsely populated Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,692 at the 2010 census... |
John E. Baldacci | July 29, 2005 | |
| Andrew M. Mead | 1952 | John E. Baldacci | April, 2007 | ||
See also
- Courts of MaineCourts of MaineCourts of Maine include:State courts of Maine*Maine Supreme Judicial Court**Maine Superior Court***Maine District Courts***Maine Problem-Solving CourtsFederal courts located in Maine*United States District Court for the District of Maine...
- List of Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justices
- State supreme courtState supreme courtIn the United States, the state supreme court is the highest state court in the state court system ....
- Maine ConstitutionMaine ConstitutionThe Constitution of the State of Maine established the "State of Maine" in 1820 and is the fundamental governing document of the state. It consists of a Preamble and ten Articles , the first of which is a "Declaration of Rights"....