E. Attorney and judicial discipline

Overview

Maine

Attorney discipline is handled by the Board of Bar Overseers. All complaints are screened by Bar Counsel on a confidential basis. M. Bar R. 7.3(k). If there is a finding of probable cause (which is done confidentially), the matter proceeds to public hearing before a Panel of the Grievance Commission. The Panel has a range of options, including to direct Bar Counsel to file a complaint with the Supreme Judicial Court. A public de novo hearing on the complaint may then be held before a single Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. An appeal may then be taken to the full court. A hearing on an appeal is also public.

Everything having to do with judicial discipline is confidential until the Committee decides to charge a judge with a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct. At that point the proceeding becomes public pursuant to Rule 6 of the Rules of the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability.