Courts and Crime

Judge: Anti-CMP Ballot Initiative Should Go To Voters

By • Jun 29, 2020
"Say NO to 145-mile CMP transmission line through Maine" via Facebook

A Cumberland County Superior Court judge ruled on Monday that a citizens initiative aimed at killing Central Maine Power’s power line project can stay on the November ballot.

Maine Supreme Court Overturns Murder For 1st Time Since 2004

By • Jun 19, 2020

PORTLAND, Maine - The state supreme court on Thursday overturned the murder conviction of the accused trigger man in a drug-related killing, the first murder conviction to be set aside in more than a decade in Maine.

Immigrant Advocates In Maine React To Supreme Court DACA Decision

By • Jun 18, 2020

Maine immigrant advocates are praising the Supreme Court's ruling Thursday that rejected the Trump Administration's effort to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

ACLU Of Maine Attorney Says LGBTQ Ruling Shows Supreme Court 'Has Finally Caught Up'

By • Jun 15, 2020

The U.S. Supreme Court today expanded anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbian and transgender people, which is seen as a resounding victory for LGBTQ rights from a conservative court.

George Floyd's Killing A 'Clarion Call' For Maine Courts To Examine Practices, Says Chief Justice

By • Jun 15, 2020
Mal Leary / Maine Public/file

Maine’s Supreme Court issued a statement last week in the wake of George Floyd's killing and the protests that followed.  It noted that "racism continues to be a pervasive blight," and promised to become better educated on racism and provide training to ensure discrimination is kept out of the courts. Acting Chief Justice Andrew Mead talked with Maine Public's Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz about the court's plan, beginning with Mead's reaction to the Floyd killing video.

Maine Attorney General To Prioritize Review Of 2007 Police Shooting

By Ed Morin • Jun 11, 2020

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says he is prioritizing a review of a case from 2007 in which a former Waldoboro police officer was found to have been legally justified when he shot an 18-year-old following a traffic stop. 

Maine Supreme Judicial Court Issues Statement Decrying Racism

By Ed Morin • Jun 10, 2020

Calling it a pervasive blight on our constitutional republic and the world at large, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has issued a statement decrying racism and other forms of bias.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuits From 2 Bankrupt Maine Hospitals Seeking Federal Relief

By • Jun 4, 2020
Maine Hospital Association

A U.S. Bankruptcy court judge has dismissed lawsuits filed by two rural Maine hospitals that have been barred from receiving coronavirus relief funds through the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Justice Department Says Maine's 2-Week Quarantine Rule Discriminates Against Tourists

By • May 29, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / AP File

The U.S. Department of Justice is siding with Maine campground and restaurant owners who have filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Maine over the 14-day self-quarantine for out-of-state residents. The restriction was imposed by Gov. Janet Mills as part of the state's response to the ongoing pandemic. At least 20 other states have imposed similar measures.

Gov. Mills' Campground Restrictions Violate Constitutional Rights, Department Of Justice Says

By Judy Harrison - Bangor Daily News • May 29, 2020
Troy R. Bennett / BDN

Gov. Janet Mills' 14-day quarantine for people coming into Maine is unconstitutional because it discriminates against out-of-staters who want to use the state’s campgrounds, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday.

Maine Courts Take Steps To Resume Operations

By • May 28, 2020
Tom Porter / Maine Public File

As the state of Maine prepares to open hotels, retail stores and state parks June 1, state courts are also taking steps to resume operations. The process will be gradual and jury trials will not be held for several months.

Two More Maine Prisoners Test Positive For COVID-19

By • May 25, 2020

The Maine Department of Corrections is confirming that two more prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, bringing the number of prisoners who have tested positive at the facility to four.

Savage Says He's Willing To Go To Prison After Courts Close Sunday River Brewing

By Lynne Fort - Bangor Daily News • May 16, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / AP

A Superior Court Justice granted a temporary injunction Friday against Sunday River Brewing Co., the Bethel restaurant owned by Rick and Ron Savage, which lost its licenses after defying Gov. Janet Mills’ executive orders.

Orrington Pastor Who Sued Janet Mills: Coming Together 'A Spiritual Necessity' At Illegal Service

By Judy Harrison - Bangor Daily News • May 10, 2020
Natalie Williams / BDN

Members of Calvary Chapel huddled Sunday morning between the church and the children’s building. Families in winter coats and hats with blankets on their laps looked more dressed for a football game than worship Mother’s Day with the temperature in the 40s.

State Says Ban On In-person Church Services Is Constitutional

By Judy Harrison - Bangor Daily News • May 9, 2020
Natalie Williams / BDN

Attorneys for Gov. Janet Mills on Friday said that her prohibition on in-person worship services do not violate the Constitution in light of the current health crisis as an Orrington church has claimed in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.

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