Judicial Department

Until the signing of the Articles of Agreement for Separation in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and included in the Massachusetts court system. In 1820, Article VI, Section 1 of the new Maine Constitution established the Judicial Branch. From the start of statehood, the Supreme Judicial Court was both a trial court and an appellate court or "Law Court." The new State of Maine also adopted the same lower court structure as existed in Massachusetts, and the court system remained unchanged until 1852. The Court Reorganization Act of 1852 increased the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Court to encompass virtually every type of case, increased the number of justices, and authorized the justices to travel in circuits. The Probate Courts were created in 1820 as county-based courts and have remained so.

In 1929, the Legislature created the statewide Superior Court as a trial court to relieve the overburdened Supreme Judicial Court. Meanwhile, the lower courts continued to operate much as they always had until 1961 when the municipal courts and the trial justices system was abolished and the new District Court created. The Administrative Court, which was created in 1978, was abolished on March 15, 2001.

The Supreme Judicial Court has general administrative and supervisory authority over the Judical Branch. The Chief Justice is designated as head of the Judicial Branch and is assisted by the state’s Court Administrator. Each of the two trial courts has a Chief Justice or Judge, appointed by and responsible to the Chief Justice, who also heads the Law Court. The Administrative Office of the Courts under the direction of the Court Administrator assists in meeting the operational need of the courts.