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Judicial Elections
How Judges Are Chosen in Maine
Maine Supreme Judicial Court justices are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate, and must be reappointed to serve another 7-year term.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Maine?
- Highest court
- Maine Supreme Judicial Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Governor appoints
- Voters
- Voters have no direct say
- Term
- 7 years
- To serve again
- Reappointment
- 2026 ballot
- No Maine Supreme Judicial Court seats in 2026
How Maine chooses its judges
Maine Supreme Judicial Court justices are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate, and must be reappointed to serve another 7-year term.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
- Term: 7 years.
- Confirmation: appointees must be approved by the State Senate.
- To serve again: Reappointment.
- Other courts: Trial judges are appointed the same way; probate judges are elected in partisan races.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Is the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on the 2026 ballot?
No. Maine voters do not vote on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court: its justices are appointed, and they must be reappointed to serve another term.
Other judges can still be on your ballot. Trial judges are appointed the same way; probate judges are elected in partisan races. Check your sample ballot for every judicial race where you live.
How to research judges on your Maine ballot
- Your sample ballot: Maine’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Maine — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Maine
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Maine’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Maine’s senators: Angus King (Independent) and Susan Collins (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in Maine has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in Maine and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
- District of Maine: seat of Nancy Torresen (senior, Oct 11, 2025) — no nominee yet.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Maine?
Maine Supreme Judicial Court justices are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate, and must be reappointed to serve another 7-year term. Trial judges are appointed the same way; probate judges are elected in partisan races.
How long is a term on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court?
7 years. At the end of a term, they must be reappointed to serve another term.
Is the Maine Supreme Judicial Court on the 2026 ballot?
No. Maine voters do not vote on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court: its justices are appointed, and they must be reappointed to serve another term.
How do I research judges on my Maine ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/registering-to-vote lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Maine?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Maine's senators, Angus King and Susan Collins, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Maine
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Maine Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.