United States District Court for the District of Maine

United States District Court for the District of Maine is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the entire state of Maine. It was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, and until 1820, it was part of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The court hears cases under Article III of the U.S. Constitution and operates within the First Circuit. Its primary courthouse is the United States Courthouse in Portland.

History

The court's origins trace to the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, encompassing the District of Maine within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Key early figures included Judge John Davis, who presided over the district. Following the Missouri Compromise and the admission of Maine as the 23rd state through the Maine Statehood Act, the separate District of Maine was formally established on March 4, 1820. The court initially held sessions in Portland, Bangor, and Wiscasset, reflecting the state's dispersed population and maritime economy. Throughout the 19th century, the court adjudicated matters related to maritime embargoes, federal marshals, and fugitive slave laws. In the 20th century, it handled significant cases involving the Federal Trade Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and Environmental Protection Agency.

Jurisdiction and organization

The District of Maine has original jurisdiction over all federal cases arising within the state, including those under the United States Code, treaties, and the Constitution. This encompasses civil actions involving the federal government, crimes prosecuted by the Department of Justice, and bankruptcy appeals overseen by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine. The court exercises supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims and shares concurrent jurisdiction with Maine's Superior Court in certain diversity matters. Appeals from its decisions are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, with further review possible by the Supreme Court of the United States. The clerk's office, based in Portland, manages cases across divisional offices.

Current judges

As authorized by Congress, the court comprises three active district judges and several senior judges. The current chief judge is Jon D. Levy, appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2014. The other active judges are Lance E. Walker, appointed by President Donald Trump, and Nancy Torresen, also an Obama appointee. The court's magistrate judges, who handle preliminary proceedings and certain trials with party consent, include John H. Rich III and Karen Frink Wolf. These judicial officers work in collaboration with the United States Attorney for the District of Maine and the Federal Public Defender for the District of Maine.

Former judges

Notable former judges include George Evans, who served from 1820 to 1847 and was previously a U.S. Representative. Judge John A. Woodcock Jr., appointed by President George W. Bush, assumed senior status in 2016 after serving as chief judge. Other significant jurists were Edward Thaxter Gignoux, known for presiding over high-profile anti-war protest cases during the Vietnam War, and Morton A. Brody, who served from 1991 until his death in 2000. The court's history also includes judges like David B. McKee and Conrad K. Cyr, who later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Courthouses

The court's primary facility is the United States Courthouse located at 156 Federal Street in Portland, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This courthouse houses courtrooms, judges' chambers, and the clerk's office. The court also maintains active divisional facilities, including the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building in Bangor, which hosts regular court sessions for the Northern Division. Previous historic locations for court sessions included the Old Federal Building in Portland and the Lincoln County Courthouse in Wiscasset. Security for all federal courthouses is provided by the United States Marshals Service.

Category:United States district courts Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1789 Category:1820 establishments in Maine Category:Government of Maine