Citizen's Guide to the Courts

 

The Judicial Branch Citizen's Guide to the Maine Courts describes the types of cases heard in court, what the judicial process is and how it works, how a trial proceeds, and the way in which the Maine courts are organized. The Guide is intended to be helpful to citizens generally, and in particular to students, to the media, and to those who may appear in a courtroom, whether as a juror, as a party or as a witness in a trial.

Originally authored by William H. Coogan for the Maine Judicial Council and published by The Maine Bar Foundation 1987. Revised and reformatted for internet publication in 1997, in 2002, and again in 2004
Additional Acknowledgements

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Introduction

Part I: What the Courts Do

• The Citizen's Role in the Judicial Process
• Types of Law
• Types of Cases
• The Litigation Process

Part II: Court Organization

• County Courts
• Trial Courts
• The Supreme Judicial Court
• The Administrative Office of the Courts
• Other Judicial Branch Programs

Part III: Visiting the Courts

Additional publications are available on this site, at the various clerks' offices, or at the Administrative Office of the Courts and include the following:

• A Guide to the Small Claims Proceedings of the Maine District Court. This booklet describes the types of cases the small claims court hears, how to file a claim, and the procedure the court follows.
• The Traverse Juror Handbook. This handbook describes the jury system as it is used in Superior Court, the rights and duties of jurors, and the jury selection process.
• A Guide for Appeals to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. This guide is designed for those who are not familiar with procedures for appealing cases to the Law Court.
• Judicial Branch Annual Report This report, published annually, describes the activities of the Judicial Department and provides caseload statistical information.