An Act to Formalize
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1810
Committee Amendment CA_A_H680 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1211, L.D. 1810, "An Act to Formalize 
a Process for Reviewing the Conduct of Judges and Justices" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Judicial Disciplinary Process' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Study the 
Judicial Disciplinary Process, referred to in this resolve as "the commission, 
is established. 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows: 
1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including one 
member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, including one member from each of the 2 parties holding the 
largest humber of seats in the Legislature; 
3. Two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; 
4. One member representing the Maine State Bar Association, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
5. One member representing the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
6. One member representing the Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
7. One member representing the Maine Prosecutors' Association, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
8. Two members of the public, appointed by the Governor; and 
9. The Governor or the Governor's designee. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A' to H.P. 1211, L.D. 1810 
In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall ensure the 
racial, gender and socioeconomic diversity, as well as geographic diversity of the 
commission. 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission. 
Sec. 4. 
Appointments; convening of commission. 
Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for 
the commission to meet and conduct its business. 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall examine the existing rules 
adopted by the Supreme Judicial Court regarding judicial discipline of probate court, 
District Court, Superior Court and Supreme Judicial Court judges and justices to determine 
whether the rules are adequate or whether changes should be made to those rules to enhance 
public trust and respect for the judicial system and the delivery of justice in the State. In 
performing this duty, the commission shall: 
1. Review the rules, statutes and constitutional provisions governing judicial discipline 
in other states, including information compiled by the National Center for State Courts 
regarding different models of judicial discipline as well as the Model Rules for Judicial 
Disciplinary Enforcement adopted by the American Bar Association; 
2. Consider the necessity of establishing specific rules for processing allegations of 
judicial misconduct involving justices of the Supreme Judicial Court; 
3. Consider the type of sanctions that may be imposed in judicial disciplinary 
proceedings, including by considering who has the authority under the Constitution of 
Maine to impose which types of discipline; 
4. Consider the appropriate time frame for resolution of judicial disciplinary 
proceedings, including by examining whether and under what circumstances judicial 
disciplinary proceedings should be expedited; and 
5. Evaluating whether, given the separation of powers provisions of the Constitution 
of Maine, new or expanded rules goveming judicial discipline can and should be adopted 
by the Legislature by statute or by the Supreme Judicial Court by rule or administrative 
order. 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support 
is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session. 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including any 
suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary. The 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEEAMENDMENT"A'toH.P. 1211,L.D.1810 
Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary may report out legislation regarding the subject 
matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the coll1ll1ittee, replaces the bill with 
a resolve establishing the Coll1ll1ission to Study the Judicial Disciplinary Process. The 
coll1ll1ission is required to examine the existing rules adopted by the Supreme Judicial 
Court regarding judicial discipline of probate court, District Court, Superior Court and 
Supreme Judicial Court judges and justices to determine whether the rules are adequate or 
whether changes should be made to those rules to enhance public ttust and respect for the 
judicial system and the delivery of justice in the State and submit a repo1t to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Judiciary by December 3, 2025 that includes its findings and 
recommendations. The committee may rep01t out legislation regarding the subject matter 
of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/01/25 LRL 
/ 
132nd. MAINE LEGISLATURE 
LD 1810 
LR937(02) 
An Act to Formalize a Process for Reviewing the Conduct of Judges and Justices 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Ame~ded by c_o~mittee Amendment 'A /i-4-_, QD' 
Committee: Judiciary 
U 
\0 v) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $3,050 in fiscal year 2025-26. The Legislature's 
proposed budget for the. 2026-2027 biennium includes $22,196 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for the 
costs oflegislative studies, as well as $8,265 in projected balances from fiscal year 2024-25 and $33,0_73 of balanct-. 
carried over from prior years for this purpose .. Whether these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on 
the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The additional costs of providing 
staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor from the provisions of this 
bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0937(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1