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Valerie Stanfill
2021 - Present
2028
4
Valerie Stanfill is the chief justice on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Gov. Janet Mills (D) appointed Stanfill chief justice of the court on May 10, 2021, to replace Chief Justice Leigh Saufley.[1] The state legislature's Judiciary Committee confirmed her on June 1, 2021.[2] She was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate on June 3, 2021.[3] Stanfill was sworn in on June 8 of that year.[4] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
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. To read more about judicial selection in Maine, click here.
Stanfill's current term ends on June 8, 2028. To remain on the bench, the governor must reappoint her to another seven-year term and the state Senate must confirm the reappointment.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. Additionally, it is one of the few state supreme courts that is authorized to issue advisory opinions. These advisory opinions are issued at the request of either the Executive Branch or the Legislative Branch.
| Maine Supreme Judicial Court |
|---|
|
| Court Information |
| Justices: 7 |
| Founded: 1820 |
| Location: Portland |
| Salary |
| Associates: $172,266[5] |
| Judicial Selection |
| Method: Direct gubernatorial appointment |
| Term: 7 years |
| Active justices |
| Catherine Connors, Wayne R. Douglas, Andrew Horton, Rick E. Lawrence, Julia Lipez, Andrew Mead, Valerie Stanfill |
Appointments
The section below details Stanfill's judicial appointments throughout her career.
2021
Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) appointed Valerie Stanfill to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on May 10, 2021.[6] Stanfill was confirmed by the Maine State Senate on June 3.[7] She succeeded Chief Justice Leigh Saufley, who retired on April 14, 2020. Saufley left the court to become the dean of the University of Maine School of Law.[8] Stanfill was Gov. Mills' third nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
At the time of the appointment, the governor would appoint a replacement who had to be confirmed by the Maine State Senate in the event of a vacancy under Maine law.
2020
Gov. Janet Mills appointed Stanfill to the Maine Superior Court in January 2020. She served on the court from February 2020 to June 2021.[4][9]
2007
Gov. John E. Baldacci (D) appointed Stanfill to the Augusta District Court in Kennebec County, Maine in December 2006. She served on the court from January 2007 to February 2020.[4][9]
Education
Stanfill earned a bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law.[4]
Career
Prior to joining the court, Stanfill served as a judge on the Maine Superior Court from February 2020 to June 2021. She also served on the Augusta District Court in Kennebec County, Maine from January 2007 to February 2020. Stanfill's professional experience also includes working for the law firms of Berman Simmons, P.A. and Troubh Heisler Piampiano Hark Andrucki, serving as a solo practitioner, and teaching at the University of Maine School of Law.[4][9]
Appointments
Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) appointed Valerie Stanfill to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on May 10, 2021.[6] Stanfill was confirmed by the Maine State Senate on June 3.[7] She succeeded Chief Justice Leigh Saufley, who retired on April 14, 2020. Saufley left the court to become the dean of the University of Maine School of Law.[10] Stanfill was Gov. Mills' third nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
At the time of the appointment, the governor would appoint a replacement who had to be confirmed by the Maine State Senate in the event of a vacancy under Maine law.
Noteworthy cases
Noteworthy cases may be selected due to their impact on legal precedent, substantial media attention, or overlaps with another area of editorial interest at Ballotpedia. To suggest cases we should cover here, email us.
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.[11]
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.[11]
Qualifications
State law requires that supreme court justices be "learned in the law."[12]
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.[11]
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.[11]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 'Maine Public, "Janet Mills Nominates Superior Court Judge Valerie Stanfill For Chief Justice Opening," May 10, 2021
- ↑ WABI, Legislature’s Judiciary Committee votes to confirm Stanfill for chief justice," June 1, 2021
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Senate confirms Valerie Stanfill as Maine’s chief justice," June 3, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 State of Maine Judicial Branch, "Supreme Court Justices," accessed June 14, 2021
- ↑ The salary of the chief justice may be higher than an associate justice.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 State of Maine, Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Governor Mills Nominates Justice Valerie Stanfill as Chief Justice of Maine Supreme Judicial Court," May 10, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 WABI5, "Maine confirms new chief justice for highest court," June 3, 2021
- ↑ Penobscot Bay Pilot, "Maine’s Chief Justice Leigh Saufley to be named dean of University of Maine School of Law," April 9, 2020
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgovannounce - ↑ Penobscot Bay Pilot, "Maine’s Chief Justice Leigh Saufley to be named dean of University of Maine School of Law," April 9, 2020
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Maine," accessed September 15, 2021
- ↑ 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
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