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LePage Abruptly Withdraws 5 Judicial Nominations On Verge Of Special Session

Robert F. Bukaty
/
Associated Press/file
In this Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 file photo, Gov. Paul LePage, right, and Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, attend the Electoral College vote at the State House in Augusta.

Without explanation, Gov. Paul LePage has withdrawn the nominations of five judges who were up for reappointment and expected to be confirmed by the Maine Senate on Monday.

In letters dated Oct. 20, LePage wrote to the speaker of the Maine House and to the Senate president to say that he was withdrawing the nominations of Justices Robert Murray of Bangor, MaryGay Kennedy of Brunswick and Ann Murray of Bangor to the Maine Superior Court, and Judges Bruce Jordan of Veazie and Susan Oram of Auburn to the Maine District Court.

The appointments had all been approved by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, with participation from members of the LePage administration.

A spokesperson for the governor’s office declined to comment on the reason for the governor’s action. A spokesperson for Maine’s judiciary also declined to comment until she had more information.

Meanwhile, Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon released a written statement calling the governor’s actions “deeply troubling” and warning that this type of delay could affect access to the court system.

“An independent judiciary is fundamental for the rule of law and the integrity of our system,” Gideon said. “It is our duty to ensure there is a swift resolution to this matter.”

Maine lawmakers return to the State House Monday for a special legislative session.  LePage ordered them back to fix problems in the food sovereignty law and to restore funding for the Maine Office of Geographic Information System.

But lawmakers also will deal with sales of recreational marijuana. A Maine legislative panel has agreed on a rewrite of the law, while Gov. Paul LePage wants lawmakers to simply delay sales until 2019.

LePage says meat and poultry must be exempted from the food sovereignty law so state officials can continue to regulate those products. If not, he says the federal government will step in to regulate them.
 
Lawmakers are also expected to consider the future of a new voter-approved system that allows voters to rank candidates.