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Julia Lipez
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2025 - Present
2032
0
Julia Lipez is a judge of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Lipez assumed office on March 28, 2025. Lipez's current term ends on March 28, 2032.
On June 4, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Julia Lipez to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.[1] Lipez's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2025.[2][3]
Lipez first became a member of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court through an appointment. Governor of Maine Janet T. Mills (D) appointed her to the court in 2025 to the seat vacated by Joseph Jabar.[4] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Education
Lipez earned a bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 2002 and a law degree from Stanford Law School in 2006.[5]
Career
- 2025-present: Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
- 2022-2025: Justice on the Maine Superior Court
- 2019-2022: Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine
- 2007-2011: Senior associate
- 2006-2007: Law clerk[5]
Appointments
2025
Governor Janet T. Mills (D) appointed Julia Lipez to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, replacing former justice Joseph Jabar, who retired on January 31, 2024.[4] Lipez was Governor Mills' sixth nominee to the seven-member supreme court. Her appointment was confirmed by the Maine State Senate on March 21, 2025, and she was sworn in on March 28, 2025.[6][6]
In Maine, state supreme court justices are selected through direct gubernatorial appointment. Justices are appointed directly by the governor without the use of a nominating commission.[7] There are five states that use this selection method. To read more about the gubernatorial appointment of judges, click here.
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a justice's term. The governor appoints a justice with confirmation by the Maine State Senate. The new appointee serves a seven-year term.[8]
2024
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On June 4, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lipez to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Lipez's nomination on June 20, 2024.[9] Lipez was reported to the full Senate on August 1, 2024, after an 11-10 committee vote.[10][11] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.
Nomination
On May 23, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Julia Lipez to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The president officially nominated Lipez on June 4, 2024. The nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2025.[12][3] Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Joe Biden.
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Lipez well qualified.[13] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Lipez was nominated to replace Judge William Kayatta.[14]
State supreme court judicial selection in Maine
- See also: Judicial selection in Maine
The seven justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court are appointed by the governor with confirmation from the Maine State Senate.[8]
Justices serve for seven years after their appointment. To continue to serve on the court, they must be reappointed by the governor and reconfirmed by the Maine State Senate.[8]
Qualifications
State law requires that supreme court justices be "learned in the law."[15]
Chief justice
In Maine, the position of chief justice is a specific seat on the court (similar to the Supreme Court of the United States) rather than a peer-selected leadership position. The chief justice is appointed in the same manner as the other justices on the court.[8]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a justice's term. The governor appoints a justice with confirmation by the Maine State Senate. The new appointee serves a seven-year term.[8]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The White House, "Press Release: Nominations Sent to the Senate," accessed June 4, 2024
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Congress.gov, "PN1808 — Julia M. Lipez — The Judiciary," accessed June 27, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 State of Maine, “Office of Governor Janet T. Mills" accessed April 1, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "appt" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedintent - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bangor Daily News, "Maine Senate confirms Julia Lipez to the Supreme Judicial Court," March 21, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "conf" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Note: In New Hampshire, a judicial selection commission has been established by executive order. The commission's recommendations are not binding.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Maine," accessed September 15, 2021
- ↑ U.S Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Nomination Hearing," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ The White House, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – August 1, 2024," accessed August 1, 2024
- ↑ U.S Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – July 11, 2024," July 11, 2024
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed June 25, 2024
- ↑ United States Courts, "Future Judicial Vacancies," accessed November 15, 2023
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "Title 4: Judiciary, Chapter 1: Supreme Judicial Court - §1. Constitution of the court; administrative responsibilities of the court and the Chief Justice," accessed April 3, 2023
Federal courts:
First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maine • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maine
State courts:
Maine Supreme Judicial Court • Maine Superior Court • Maine Business and Consumer Court • Maine District Courts • Maine Family Division • Maine Juvenile Court • Maine Probate Courts • Maine Small Claims Court • Maine Treatment Court
State resources:
Courts in Maine • Maine judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maine
