Maine Revised Statutes Annotated

Maine Revised Statutes Annotated
Title	Maine Revised Statutes Annotated
Jurisdiction	Maine
Publisher	Thomson Reuters
Language	English
Started	19th century

Maine Revised Statutes Annotated is a codification of the statutory law of Maine that incorporates annotations, historical notes, and editorial commentary used by practitioners, judges, and legislators. It serves as a reference alongside published opinions from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, rulings of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and guidance from agencies such as the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

History

The codification process in Maine traces roots to legislative compilations influenced by precedents in Massachusetts and the early American statutory projects following the American Revolution, with prominent figures like William King (governor) and legislative sessions in Augusta, Maine shaping initial statutes. 19th-century revisions reflected judicial interpretations from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and comparative law developments observed in decisions from the United States Supreme Court, the First Circuit, and state courts in New Hampshire and Vermont. Later 20th-century efforts paralleled publication practices by commercial publishers such as West Publishing and editorial models refined by firms like Thomson Reuters and legal scholarship from institutions including the University of Maine School of Law and the Harvard Law School. Landmark state statutes that influenced annotation practices include reforms comparable to the Uniform Commercial Code adoption debates and legislative responses to federal acts like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Affordable Care Act.

Publication and Organization

The annotated code is organized into titles, chapters, and sections reflecting subjects analogous to statutory structures in New York and California, with topical headings that correspond to administrative bodies such as the Maine Secretary of State and the Maine Legislature. Its publisher editions have mirrored innovations in legal publishing exemplified by series from LexisNexis and compilations like the U.S. Code Annotated, while state legislative drafting conventions draw comparison to models used by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the American Law Institute. Each volume cross-references judicial decisions from the Maine Law Reporter and procedural rules from the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure.

Annotation System and Editorial Practice

Annotations compile case notes from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, statutory histories citing sessions of the Maine Legislature, and citations to federal decisions including the First Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Editorial practice follows precedents in editorial standards set by firms like Thomson Reuters and West Publishing, incorporating headnotes, digest classifications akin to the Federal Reporter system, and editorial notes reflecting scholarship from journals such as the Maine Law Review and the Harvard Law Review. Contributors include statutory editors, cite-checkers trained in methodologies used by the American Bar Association, and librarians from institutions like the Library of Congress and the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library.

Accessibility and Formats

The annotated statutes are available in print editions comparable to law libraries at the Maine State House and digital platforms modeled after services from Westlaw and LexisNexis. Electronic formats support search functions similar to those offered by the GPO and integrate with court dockets from the Maine Judicial Branch and case management systems used by firms in Portland, Maine. Accessibility initiatives reference standards promulgated by organizations such as the American Library Association and the National Federation of the Blind to provide formats compatible with assistive technologies used by practitioners, academics from the University of Southern Maine, and public interest groups like the ACLU of Maine.

Legal Status and Use in Courts

Courts in Maine treat the annotated code as persuasive statutory text for interpretation, often citing legislative history and annotations in opinions of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and trial courts in Cumberland County. Federal courts in the First Circuit may reference state codifications for matters of state law, while attorneys rely on annotations for briefing before administrative bodies such as the Maine Public Utilities Commission and tribunals akin to the Social Security Administration. The annotated compilation is used alongside session laws enacted by the Maine Legislature and statutory instruments promulgated under authority of agencies like the Maine Board of Environmental Protection.

Reception and Criticism

Reception among practitioners and scholars has invoked comparisons to annotation practices in texts published by LexisNexis and debates similar to those surrounding the United States Code Annotated, with commentators from the Maine Law Review, the American Bar Association Journal, and legal bloggers in Portland critiquing coverage, update frequency, and editorial transparency. Critics cite concerns echoed in commentary on commercial codifications from entities like Thomson Reuters and West Publishing about proprietary access, while supporters point to the utility for judges in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and legislators in the Maine Legislature for efficient statutory research and legislative drafting.

Category:Maine law