PORTLAND, Maine — Federal judge Nancy Torresen on Tuesday became chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.
Torresen succeeded U.S. District Judge John Woodcock, who ended his term as chief judge on Monday after seven years.
A graduate of Hope College and the University of Michigan School of Law, Torresen was appointed by President Barack Obama on Oct. 11, 2011.
The chief judge is responsible for seeing that the court is administered effectively and efficiently in compliance with statutes, Judicial Conference and circuit judicial council policies and Administrative Office regulations, according to a news release issued Tuesday.
In the District of Maine, Torresen will oversee a budget of more than $5.6 million and a staff of more than 100 people, that includes judicial support staff, the clerk’s office, and the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office.