United States District Court for the District of Maine
About This Court
The District of Maine is a single-district federal court covering the entire state of Maine, one of the six districts that make up the First Circuit. The court sits primarily in Portland, with court also held in Bangor, serving a geographically large but relatively sparsely populated state in the northeastern corner of the country.
The district handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising in Maine, including cases involving maritime law, federal land disputes, and matters related to the state's substantial fishing and forestry industries. As a smaller district by caseload, it maintains a manageable docket while still addressing significant federal questions.
Maine's federal judiciary has a long history, with the district having been established by Congress in 1789 as one of the original federal judicial districts. The court operates with a relatively small bench consistent with the state's population and federal caseload volume.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of Maine.
Divisions
Portland Division (Portland), Bangor Division (Bangor)
Caseload
The District of Maine sees a mix of federal criminal cases, civil rights matters, and cases involving maritime and natural resource issues reflective of Maine's coastal economy and geography. The court's caseload volume is relatively modest compared to larger urban districts.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the District of Maine by applying to the court and demonstrating good standing in at least one state bar. Local rules govern the admission process, including requirements for attorneys not admitted to the Maine state bar.
Clerk's Office
156 Federal Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-3356
Active Judges 7
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Hornby | George H.W. Bush | 1990 | Harvard Law School |
| Jon Levy | Barack Obama | 2014 | West Virginia University College of Law |
| Stacey Neumann | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | Cornell Law School |
| George Singal | William J. Clinton | 2000 | Harvard Law School |
| Nancy Torresen | Barack Obama | 2011 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Lance Walker | Donald J. Trump | 2018 | University of Maine School of Law |
| John Woodcock | George W. Bush | 2003 | University of Maine School of Law |
Local Rules
65 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.