An Act To Make a Technical Correction to a Recently Enacted Law Regarding the Appointment of District Court Judges
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1455
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: BURNS
Amends: 4 MRSA §157

Legislative Document 
No. 1455 
S.P. 557 
In Senate, July 16, 2015 
An Act To Make a Technical Correction to a Recently Enacted Law 
Regarding the Appointment of District Court Judges 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BURNS of Washington. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Public Law 2015, chapter 267 increased the count and funding for District 
Court judges without amending the statutory count of District Court judges; and 
Whereas, the statutory number should be corrected immediately to allow for the 
nomination and confirmation of the new judges as soon as possible; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  4 MRSA §157, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. III, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
A.    The Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and to confirmation by the 
Legislature, shall appoint to the District Court 36 38 judges.  At least one judge must 
be appointed from each district who is a resident of a county in which the district lies, 
except that in District 3 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a 
county in which the district lies; in District 6 there must be 2 judges appointed who 
are residents of a county in which the district lies; and in District 9 there must be 2 
judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies.  Each 
District Court Judge has a term of office of 7 years. 
To be eligible for appointment as a District Judge, a person must be a member of the 
bar of the State.  The term "District Judge" includes the Chief Judge and Deputy 
Chief Judge. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill corrects the statutory count of District Court judges to match the number 
funded in Public Law 2015, chapter 267. 
Approved: 07/16/15
LD     
LR 2101(01)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact to correct statutory count of District Court judges
Public Law 2015, chapter 267 provided funding to increase the number of District Court judges by 2. This bill 
corrects the statutory count of judges to properly reflect the 2 new positions.  
An Act To Make a Technical Correction to a Recently Enacted Law Regarding the Appointment of 
District Court Judges
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Sponsor: Sen. Burns of Washington
Committee: Not Referred
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
LR2101(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1