Chief justice, legislators to tour courthouses
9/26/09 | 7 comments
courts

Chief justice, legislators to tour courthouses


By Judy Harrison
BDN Staff
Saufley

Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court will tour courthouses in Washington and Penobscot counties next week.

Next month, she will visit court facilities in Somerset and Kennebec counties

At each location, she will be accompanied by local legislators.

“These visits provide an opportunity to directly address issues related to rural access to justice, and the condition of Maine’s courthouses,” Mary Ann Lynch, spokeswoman for the judiciary, said in a press release announcing the visits, “as well as providing an opportunity for Maine’s elected representatives to visit the courthouses.”

Saufley is scheduled to be at the 4th District Court in Calais at 10 a.m. Monday. She then will head to the District and Superior courts in Machias for a 1 p.m. tour. Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, and Rep. Anne C. Perry, D-Calais, will accompany the chief justice.

One topic that Saufley and legislators are expected to discuss is the $12 million renovation to the Machias courts approved by the Legislature.

Saufley is scheduled to visit the Penobscot Tribal Court on Indian Island at 9 a.m. Tuesday with Rep. Wayne Mitchell, the Penobscot Nation’s representative in the Legislature. She also will tour 3rd District Court in Newport at noon with Rep. Joshua Tardy, R-Newport.

The chief justice will meet with staff at 12th District Court in Skowhegan at 8 a.m. Oct. 6 and at the Somerset County Superior Court an hour later. The chief justice will tour 7th District Court in Waterville at noon the same day with Sen. Lisa Marrache, D-Waterville. Saufley and Senate President Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, and then tour the Kennebec County Courthouse at 2 p.m.

Last year, the Legislature approved a $60 million upgrade to the court facilities in Augusta that would combine the District and Superior court clerks’ offices in a facility to be built behind the Kennebec County Courthouse. Renovations also are planned for the Superior Court.

jharrison@bangordailynews.net

990-8207

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Comments
7 comments on this item
On 9/26/09 at 8:11 AM, JWBooth wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So, Leigh, did all that money you spent on the Houlton courtrooms move the cases thru the system one bit faster?

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On 9/27/09 at 6:56 AM, patom1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

$12 million for the Washington County Court House??? Where and how are we going to house the people convicted in these refurbished facilities? The DOC is mandating that we cut the number of inmates in the Washington County Jail. Could it be possible that there are people in the State of Maine that aren't operating on the same page???

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On 9/27/09 at 3:20 PM, elliemae wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yep, let's get all excited about fancy courthouse upgrades, but not fund the clerks' offices or the court-appointed system of representing indigent clients. The court system is backed up beyond the gills with cases, there are not enough clerks, not enough judges, and the State is subjecting the clerks to shutdown days and cutting their salaries. Counsel for indigent clients are being told they can only spend about 15 hours on cases in a 6-month period, or their pay may be capped if they exceed the maximum. This can cause a chilling effect on representation of the State's poorest. But meanwhile appearances of buildings are everything. A superficial legislature funding facades. I guess we know where their priorities are. Shameful.

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On 9/27/09 at 8:37 PM, Harrry wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Add these comments to the fact that our Judiciary will not follow the Constitution, equals corrupt. When will 'We the people' stand up and demand equal protection under the Law. If a person wants to be a Lawyer, then they should spend at least two years doing pro bono work for indigents, then get paid.

Alases should be handled in two Court visits, nothing more. Bringing a person back time and time again, does wonders for the Lawyers fee, but zip for Justice.

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On 9/28/09 at 6:07 AM, JoeCentral wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I couldn't agree more. There's huge problems in the Maine Judiciary, and I can personally attest that it begins right at the top with this Chief Justice.

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On 9/28/09 at 6:30 AM, JoeCentral wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The Nature Conservancy owns the Maine Judiciary lock, stock, and barrel.

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On 9/28/09 at 2:38 PM, ronfromdowneast wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

12 million to refurbish??? 12 million on that little complex???? Are they serious?

Tear it down and build it new for 12 million. Refurbishing is just throwing good money after bad on an aging complex.

If you can't build a brand new courthouse and jail on that small footprint for 12 million bucks you are corrupt.

12 million dollars is a lot of money.

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