Case Name: STATE of Maine v. Martin GREGOIRE
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1986-05-20
Citations: 509 A.2d 114
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE of Maine v. Martin GREGOIRE.
Judges: Before McKUSICK, C.J., and NICHOLS, ROBERTS, VIOLETTE, WATHEN and SCOLNIK, JJ.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 509
Pages: 114–114

Head Matter:
STATE of Maine v. Martin GREGOIRE.
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.
Argued April 30, 1986.
Decided May 20, 1986.
David W. Crook, Dist. Atty. (orally), Augusta, for plaintiff.
Lipman & Parks, P.A., David M. Lipman (orally), Augusta, for defendant.
Before McKUSICK, C.J., and NICHOLS, ROBERTS, VIOLETTE, WATHEN and SCOLNIK, JJ.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION.
Following a jury-waived trial in Superior Court (Kennebec County), the Defendant, Martin Gregoire, was convicted of gross sexual misconduct and unlawful sexual contact. The gravamen of his appeal is that the Superior Court failed to apply the appropriate standard to determine whether two very young witnesses were competent to testify for the State. Upon the promulgation of our Rules of Evidence, and beginning with State v. Pinkham, 411 A.2d 1021 (Me.1980), we have consistently recognized that M.R.Evid. 601(b) governs determinations as to the competency of witnesses to testify. See State v. Gray, 440 A.2d 1062, 1064-65 (Me.1982). Therefore, the Defendant's contention for applying here the earlier standard of competence is without merit.
Finding no abuse of discretion in the Superior Court's determination that these children were competent to testify against him, the entry must be:
Judgment affirmed.
All concurring.