State and federal courts will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.
Although most state offices will be closed Friday, July 2, the first furlough day for state workers of fiscal year 2011 — which begins Thursday, July 1 — state courts will remain open. Clerks’ offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in state courthouses so fines can be collected and paperwork can be filed.
Judges will handle the following matters on shutdown days:
• Emergency petitions presented by a state agency such as a request for a preliminary protection order or an emergency or involuntary admission request.
• Matters in which urgent constitutional rights are implicated, including in-custody arraignments and juvenile detention hearings.
• Any type of case that does not involve a prosecutor or other state workers subject to the state shutdown.
The following types of cases will not be dealt with on shutdown days:
• Child protective and juvenile cases.
• Family matters that involve an assistant attorney general, or a child support enforcement agent.
• Criminal dockets, including noncustodial arraignments, motions and trials.
The other fiscal year 2011 dates that state offices will be shut down while courts are scheduled to open are:
• Friday, Aug. 6.
• Friday, Sept. 3.
• Friday, Oct. 8.
• Thursday, Dec. 23.
• Friday, Jan. 14.
• Tuesday, Feb. 22.
• Friday, March 18.
• Tuesday, April 19.
• Friday, May 27.
On the Web: www.courts.state.me.us