Judge allows more DNA tests in 34-year-old killing in Maine
July 25, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A judge has granted a request for additional DNA tests by a man convicted of killing a 12-year-old girl more than three decades ago.
Dennis Dechaine is serving a life sentence for the murder and sexual assault of Sarah Cherry, who was abducted while babysitting in Bowdoin.
$1B hydropower project’s fate rests with Maine supreme court
May 10, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Proponents in Maine of a stalled $1 billion energy corridor that sought to bringing Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid asked the state’s high court to breathe new life into the project Tuesday.
1st Black justice ready to serve on Maine’s supreme court
May 4, 2022 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The first African American to serve on Maine’s highest court was sworn in Wednesday, and he said he’s ready to get to work.
Rick Lawrence said he's already reading legal briefs to bring himself up to speed on some of the cases before the court.
Intertidal zone belongs to beachfront owners, judge says
April 21, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A state judge ruled that the intertidal zone belongs to beachfront property owners but the judge's ruling didn’t specify what activities, if any, might be allowed there.
The ruling was a setback for plaintiffs who sued last year to overturn private ownership of the waterfront land between the high and low tide marks.
Maine Senate confirms first Black justice to top state court
April 12, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Maine Senate unanimously voted on Tuesday to confirm the first Black justice to the state's highest court.
A legislative panel voted last week to confirm Rick Lawrence to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
Maine panel confirms potential 1st Black judge on top court
April 8, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A legislative panel voted Friday to confirm a Maine judge who could become the first African American to serve on Maine’s highest court.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills nominated Rick Lawrence to serve on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
Maine governor to appoint first Black justice to high court
March 7, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's governor has nominated a veteran judge to become the first Black justice on the state's highest court.
Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, nominated Rick Lawrence to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court post on Monday.
Owner of statue of segregationist judge says it’s in storage
February 17, 2022 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The owner of a statue of a former U.S. Supreme Court chief justice said he has removed it at the request of county commissioners.
The statue of Melville Fuller, who was from Maine, was removed without warning from its granite base outside Kennebec County Courthouse on Sunday.
Convicted murderer asks for new DNA test on victim’s clothes
December 11, 2021 GMTROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — A man convicted of killing a 12-year-old girl more than three decades ago is asking a court to allow advanced DNA testing on the victim's clothes.
The Portland Press Herald reports that Dennis Dechaine attended a Superior Court hearing virtually on Friday at the Knox County Courthouse in Rockland.
Maine supreme court upholds murder conviction of NC man
September 28, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Maine supreme court on Tuesday upheld the murder conviction and life prison sentence of one of three people convicted in a deadly home invasion.
Christopher Murray, of Red Springs, North Carolina, contended the judge erred in instructing the jury and in preventing an expert witness from telling jurors the surviving victim was likely “confabulating” her memory.
Parties still tweaking redistricting proposals in Maine
September 10, 2021 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The chair of a bipartisan redistricting commission said proposed maps developed by Republicans and Democrats will likely be released in a week or two, ahead of a Sept. 27 deadline.
Unvaccinated lawyer required to wear mask during trial
July 22, 2021 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — An attorney who declined to be vaccinated for COVID-19 had to wear a mask during a trial this week after losing an appeal to the state supreme court.
Darrick X. Banda, who likened the mask to “a dunce cap,” said the timing of new court rules this month didn't give him time to be vaccinated, even if he'd wanted to do so.
40-year sentence upheld for man who killed his roommate
July 22, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's supreme court has upheld a 40-year prison sentence imposed on a man who killed his roommate in Old Orchard Beach.
Dustan Bentley pleaded guilty to murder in the death of 65-year-old William Popplewell, who was beaten, stabbed and strangled with a ligature.
Maine confirms new chief justice for highest court
June 3, 2021 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Senate on Thursday confirmed a veteran district court judge as the new chief justice of the state's highest court.
Valerie Stanfill will take over as chief of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and oversee operations in the Maine Judicial Branch.
Top court: Social media posts violate no-contact order
July 24, 2018 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Social media posts can represent a violation of a protection order, the state's highest court ruled on Tuesday, affirming the conviction of a man who made threats on Facebook...
Court seeks justification for unusual hate crime order
December 24, 2017 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's high court this week ordered a lower court to explain why potential jail time for any future hate crimes he might commit would be justified for a Turner man convicted of twice ramming into the car of a man he believed was gay...
Court rejects claim of ‘excessive friendliness’ by police
June 21, 2017 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A man convicted of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy will remain in prison after Maine's high court rejected an appeal arguing that the detective who interviewed him displayed "excessive friendliness...