Maine Superior Court


The Maine Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the Maine state court system.
All state jury trials are held in the Superior Court. The court is located in each of Maine's 16 counties. The Court consists of 17 justices who all have statewide jurisdiction and travel to the different courthouses to hold court. Justices are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate and are appointed to seven-year terms.

Chief Justices of the Maine Superior Court

The position of Chief Justice of the Maine Superior Court was authorized by the Maine Legislature, P.L. 1983, c. 269, § 7, to be effective on January 1, 1984. The Chief Justice is designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to "serve at the pleasure and under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and shall be responsible for the operation of the Superior Court." 4 MRSA §101-A.
NameHomeStart of TermEnd of TermNotes
Robert W. CliffordLewiston, MaineJanuary 1, 1984August 1, 1986Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Morton A. BrodyWaterville, MaineAugust 1, 1986June 6, 1990Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Thomas E. Delahanty IILewiston, MaineJune 6, 1990June 6, 19955-year term expired
Roland A. ColeWells, MaineJune 7, 1995June 30, 19972-year term expired
Margaret J. KravchukBangor, MaineJuly 1, 1997June 30, 19992-year term expired
Andrew A. MeadBangor, MaineJuly 1, 1999June 30, 20012-year term expired
Nancy D. MillsCornville, MaineJuly 1, 2001September 1, 2004Resigned as Chief Justice
Thomas E. HumphreySanford, MaineSeptember 1, 2004April 29, 2015Appointed to Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Roland A. ColeWells, MaineJune 10, 20152018
Robert MullenPortland, Maine2018

Current justices

As of, the justices of the Maine Superior Court are:
NameDate of BirthBirthplaceAppointed ByStart of TermNotes
Thomas D. WarrenAngus KingSeptember 2, 1998
M. Michaela MurphyJohn BaldacciOctober 1, 2007
William R. AndersonJohn BaldacciFebruary 21, 2008Formerly on the Maine District Court
MaryGay KennedyJohn BaldacciJuly 30, 2010
Ann M. MurrayJohn BaldacciJuly 30, 2010
Robert E. MurrayJohn BaldacciJuly 30, 2010
John O'NeilPaul LePageAugust 31, 2011
Robert MullenPaul LePageFebruary 7, 2014
Daniel BillingsPaul LePageFebruary 7, 2014
William R. StokesPaul LePageMay 7, 2014
Wayne R. DouglasPaul LePageMay 26, 2015
Bruce C. MalloneePaul LePageMay 26, 2015
Harold Stewart IIPaul LePageApril 14, 2016
Valerie StanfillJanet MillsJanuary 8, 2020
Stephen NelsonJanet MillsJanuary 30, 2020
Thomas McKeonJanet MillsJanuary 30, 2020

Active-retired justices of the Maine Superior Court:
NameStart Date of Active-Retired StatusNotes
William S. BrodrickApril 24, 1995
Carl O. BradfordSeptember 2, 1998
S. Kirk StudstrupOctober 1, 2007
Donald H. MardenMarch 3, 2008
Robert W. CliffordSeptember 1, 2009Retired from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, but is sitting in the Superior Court
G. Arthur BrennanAugust 26, 2011
Joyce A. WheelerApril 2015
Paul A. FritzscheJuly 2015
E. Allen HunterApril 16, 2016
Roland A. ColeDecember 31, 2019-
Nancy D. MillsDecember 31, 2019

Former justices

Statewide Superior Court established January 1, 1930; P.L. 1929, ch 141. The Superior Court, with a location in each county, became the general jurisdiction trial court, replacing the Maine Supreme Court justices who traveled from county to county to sit in trial terms in those counties without their own Superior Court. The presiding justices from the Superior Courts in four counties continued to serve on the statewide Superior Court. The Supreme Judicial Court was reduced from eight justices to six justices as a result of vacancies.