Maine Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill on Access to Justice

Justice Speaks Podcast #101

From Legal Practice and Teaching to the Bench

Chief Justice Stanfill reflected on the unconventional path that led her to the legal profession. After college, she considered several careers before attending law school in Maine, influenced by family connections and in-state tuition. Following law school, she clerked in Maine’s trial courts and joined a trial firm, where she practiced for 11 years and became a partner.

She later moved from private practice to teaching at the University of Maine School of Law. As director of the clinical programs, she helped establish the school’s first domestic violence program and worked with students serving clients who might not otherwise obtain legal assistance. Teaching renewed her commitment to the law after the pressures of private practice and helped lead her toward judicial service.

Maine’s Court Structure and Judicial Leadership

Chief Justice Stanfill has served at every level of Maine’s judiciary. She spent 13 years on the District Court, later served on the Superior Court, and has served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court since 2021. Maine has no intermediate appellate court, so the Supreme Judicial Court hears nearly all appeals, with limited categories of landlord-tenant, small claims, and administrative appeals first reviewed by the Superior Court.

The conversation also examined Maine’s judicial selection process. Judges are nominated by the governor, reviewed in public hearings before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, and confirmed by the Senate. They serve seven-year terms and must be renominated and reconfirmed. As Chief Justice, Stanfill carries a judicial caseload while overseeing the judicial branch. Her responsibilities range from budgets and technology to courthouse planning.

Modernizing Courthouses and Expanding Remote Access

Chief Justice Stanfill described Maine’s work to strengthen fair and timely access to justice. The state has made progress in developing safer, more modern courthouses, although aging county-owned facilities remain a challenge. Remote proceedings have created efficiencies. Zoom appearances for individuals in custody can reduce transportation costs and allow lawyers to appear in distant courts, but courts must determine when remote participation is appropriate and when an in-person hearing is necessary.

Electronic Courts and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence

Maine is also implementing an electronic court system. At the time of the interview, she reported that Maine’s largest court had begun using the system, with implementation remaining in two of the state’s eight regions.”. Chief Justice Stanfill also described a grant-supported project with the National Center for State Courts and Microsoft exploring a closed artificial intelligence system to assist clerks across the state. AI tools may be useful, but their work must be verified and their use must comply with ethical responsibilities.

The discussion addressed Maine’s effort to reduce its criminal case backlog. Although the backlog remains above pre-pandemic levels, it has declined substantially from its earlier peak. Access to counsel presents another challenge. Maine provides attorneys at first appearances, but shortages make continuous representation difficult and sometimes require an attorney-of-the-day model. The state is building a stronger public defender system while examining barriers to legal education, bar admission, and the responsible use of alternate justice practitioners.

Treatment and Recovery Courts in Maine

Chief Justice Stanfill also discussed treatment and recovery courts, which provide structured support for recovery, accountability, and successful reintegration into the community. Although these programs require substantial resources, Chief Justice Stanfill noted that these programs can offer a cost-effective alternative to incarceration, which she estimated may cost approximately $90,000 to $100,000 per person annually.

The Next Decade for Maine’s Courts

Looking toward the next decade, Chief Justice Stanfill expects Maine’s courts to consider expanded hours, additional staffing, bail reform, greater use of alternate justice practitioners, stronger connections with community services, and expanded specialty courts. The role AI will ultimately play remains uncertain. She concluded by reminding young lawyers and future judicial leaders that law is a noble profession grounded in service, constitutional responsibility, and the promise of equal and independent justice.

Justice Speaks thanks Chief Justice Stanfill for sharing her experiences and vision for Maine’s courts and thanks Reconnect for sponsoring the chief justice interviews presented in this series.