April 1, 2024, Augusta, Maine. The next implementation of Maine eCourts and eFiling begins today for most family and civil case types in Rumford, Farmington, and South Paris District Courts, and Franklin and Oxford County Superior Courts.

Maine eCourts is a suite of applications and web-based tools using Tyler Technologies' Enterprise Justice Solutions. The new case management and eFiling system is replacing MEJIS, the Judicial Branch's aging docketing system, and paper-based court files and processes.

Attorneys, governmental agencies, and others who file more than six court cases in a calendar year are nowrequiredto electronically file in these courts. Protection from abuse, protection from harassment, juvenile, criminal, and civil violations cases continue to be filed in paper. Self-represented litigants are not required to eFile.

eFiling
Mandatory eFilers including attorneys or law firm staff must register on eFileMaine to electronically file. Virtual training sessions, informational recordings and instructional documents are located on the Training & Resources page of the Maine Judicial Branch website. The Judicial Branch offers process related support for eFilers by email atecourtshelp@courts.maine.gov and by telephone at (207) 213-2813 Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Technical and product support is offered by Tyler Technologies on their user support page.

Accessing Electronic Court Records
re:SearchMaine is the new online search tool to access electronic case records, replacing the Maine eCourts Odyssey Portal. Attorneys and parties can access their own electronic case documents on re:SearchMaine. Members of the public can search and view the Registry of Action (ROA), that lists court events, for public cases that have been electronically filed. More information on how to access court records can be found on the Accessing Electronic Court Records web page.

The first phase of Maine eCourts was implemented in 2018 for traffic cases statewide, followed by the Bangor District Court, Penobscot County Superior Court, the statewide Business and Consumer Docket (BCD) in 2020, and the Lewiston District Court and Androscoggin Superior Court in 2023.

To learn more about Maine eCourts, visit https://www.courts.maine.gov/ecourts/index.html

To stay informed about eFiling and other news from the Judicial Branch, sign up at: https://www.courts.maine.gov/news/signup.html

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Contact: 
Barbara Cardone, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations
Barbara.Cardone@courts.maine.gov
207-213-2803 (office)

The MSBA's Wellness Committee, in conjunction with President Jonathan Dunitz, is pleased to welcome you to participate in Wellness Wednesdays. As he announced at the Maine Law, Business & Society Summit in January, President Dunitz has made wellness a priority during his tenure. Inspired by Well-Being Week in Law (WWIL), Wellness Wednesday emails will provide tips, resources, and encouragement for taking charge of your wellness in these five areas:

• physical
• emotional 
• spiritual 
• occupational and intellectual
• social

The MSBA will continue to participate in WWIL, which this year takes place the week of May 6-10. To complement our wellness initiative, look for a special wellness edition of the Maine Bar Journal in May, a wellness web page, and Bar Talks that feature wellness experts. District Governors may also reach out to organize regional wellness-focused activities. 

We encourage you to share your own tips for wellness and suggest ways to collaborate as a larger group on wellness activities. Send an email to Kathryn Holub at kholub@mainebar.org with Wellness in the subject line.

The MSBA's Wellness Committee, in conjunction with President Jonathan Dunitz, is pleased to welcome you to participate in Wellness Wednesdays. As he announced at the Maine Law, Business & Society Summit in January, President Dunitz has made wellness a priority during his tenure. Inspired by Well-Being Week in Law (WWIL), Wellness Wednesday emails will provide tips, resources, and encouragement for taking charge of your wellness in these five areas:

• physical
• emotional 
• spiritual 
• occupational and intellectual
• social

The MSBA will continue to participate in WWIL, which this year takes place the week of May 6-10. To complement our wellness initiative, look for a special wellness edition of the Maine Bar Journal in May, a wellness web page, and Bar Talks that feature wellness experts. District Governors may also reach out to organize regional wellness-focused activities. 

We encourage you to share your own tips for wellness and suggest ways to collaborate as a larger group on wellness activities. Send an email to Kathryn Holub at kholub@mainebar.org with Wellness in the subject line.

The National Academy of Arbitrators (NAA) has announced its upcoming 77th Annual Meeting, set to take place from May 7 to May 10, 2024, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. This year’s theme, Moving Forward, will address pivotal issues impacting labor and employment arbitration, collective bargaining, and international labor and employment dispute resolution. 

The event will engage attendees with discussions led by leading arbitrators and subject matter experts. Sessions will delve into current and evolving issues, including:

• An Exploration of Labor and Employment Dispute Resolution Systems Embedded in International Trade Agreements
• Collective Bargaining in the NCAA
• Emerging Collective Bargaining in Women’s Sports
• Developing Issues in Police Arbitration
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Collective Bargaining and Arbitration
• Guns at Work

Other sessions will explore the complexities of mandatory employment arbitration and class action waivers and discuss the limitations of employees’ freedom of speech on social media. 

The keynote speaker is George Mitchell, former senator and United States special envoy. In an exclusive pre-recorded interview, he will impart valuable insights, drawing from his experiences as a neutral figure.

Bill McKee, President of the NAA, is excited to see the annual meeting in Boston. “Our annual meeting is an unparalleled opportunity for industry professionals to engage in meaningful dialogue, navigate the complexities of contemporary collective bargaining, and network with others in this profession,” McKee said. “It’s truly a road map for Moving Forward in arbitration and improved labor-management collective bargaining relationships in North America and around the globe.”

The NAA invites all parties interested in collective bargaining and arbitration, including attorneys, human resource and labor relations professionals, union advocates, and those interested in pursuing arbitration as a career.

For additional information or to sign up, visit https://naaevents.memberclicks.net/. The registration fee for the event is $665.

The National Academy of Arbitrators is a professional organization with members in the United States and Canada. The Academy strives to strengthen the profession while advancing knowledge and understanding of labor and employment arbitration. For more information, please visit https://naarb.org.

• Our ebook collection is available through LexisNexis Digital Library: https://lexisdl.com/welcome/login/mainestate and has 900+ titles covering many legal topics
• Download the LexisNexis Digital Library App from the Apple App Store or GooglePlay and use the code MAINESTATE to access our collection
• To access our LexisNexis Digital Library collection remotely, Maine residents must sign up for a borrowing account with the Law & Legislative Reference Library: https://legislature.maine.gov/lawlibrary/contact-the-law-library/9136
• Maine state employees in all branches of government can access our ebooks immediately using their state-provided email address (Click the link that says “Sign in with Email”)

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Library directly.

Maine State Law & Legislative Reference Library

Telephone: (207) 287-1600

E-mail:https://www.maine.gov/legis/lawlib/refemail.htm

Did you know that Public Sector attorney membership makes you eligible to receive two free CLE credit hours through Sept 30, 2024?

This benefit applies to MSBA members of the Public Sector membership category and includes attendance at MSBA-produced CLE programs only that qualify for 1-2 hours of credit. It is valid for up to two credit hours per membership year.

To receive the benefit, simply review the current CLE program listing on our website and select an MSBA-produced program that qualifies for one or two CLE credits. Then contact Molly Rogers at mrogers@mainebar.org or (207) 622-7523 to register and receive your benefit. Please note: free CLE credits are not redeemable for cash, cannot be applied to previous CLE purchases, and are non-transferrable.

Please share this with your public sector colleagues. If they become MSBA members, they will also be eligible to earn two free CLE credits, and you may be eligible for a new member referral credit!

If you choose to share this with colleagues, here is the definition for the MSBA’s Public Sector member category:

The Public Sector category is for any attorney in good standing, admitted to the practice of law, who either resides or practices in the State of Maine, and whose practice consists of full-time employment in the public service sector. Public service sector includes attorneys working for governmental entities (federal, state, county, municipal); legal services organizations; military; and, accredited law schools or universities.

Contact: 
Barbara Cardone, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations
Barbara.Cardone@courts.maine.gov
207-213-2803 (office)

The Maine Judicial Branch is pleased to announce it is expanding its resources for self-represented litigants.

Short videos on popular topics that have been released recently are:

• The difference between a protection from abuse order and protection from harassment order;
• How to file for divorce or parental rights and responsibilities (custody);
• How to change or enforce a court’s final order of divorce or parental rights and responsibilities; and
• An overview of small claims court.

We’ve also recently release short brochures on small claims court and evicting a tenant from a residence for not paying rent.

Videos can be viewed on the Judicial Branch Court Help Videos web page here:  https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/videos.html. The videos are also linked on the individual web page on the topic in question and are grouped together on the Judicial Branch's Vimeo channel here: https://vimeo.com/manage/showcases/10327094/info.
 
Brochures and other self-help guides are available on our website Guides and Publications web page here: https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/guides/index.html.
 
More resources for self-represented litigants are in development.

Contact: Barbara Cardone, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations
Phone: (207) 213-2803 (office)
Email: Barbara.Cardone@courts.maine.gov 

The following court forms are available for download on the Maine Judicial Branch website.

• PA-001 Complaint for Protection from Abuse (Updated)
• PA-006 Complaint for Protection from Harassment (Updated)
• PA-010 Defendant's Motion to Dissolve/Modify/Amend Temporary Order for Protection (Updated)
• PA-012 Plaintiff Pre-Judgment Motion to Dismiss Complaint (Updated)
• PA-013 Plaintiff's Motion to Extend Order for Protection (Updated)
• PA-015 Affidavit of Confidential Address (Updated)
• PA-022 Post-Judgment Motion to Modify/Extinguish Final Protection Order (Updated)

Securus Customer Billing Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for attorneys, friends, and family. This number is 1-800-844-6591, 1-877-578-3658. Questions can be answered through http://securus.custhelp.com/app/ask/. 

Attorneys who wish to set up specialized accounts for attorney-client calls will need to have their driver's license, Bar Number, and the phone number(s) they will use for calls with their clients ready for the agent.

Also, a recording has been placed at the beginning of calls out of the facility to warn person(s) in the call if this is an attorney call to please hang up and dial the above listed 800 number. This recording plays seeral times for the first five minutes of each call.

If an attorney wishes to check the status of their numbers placed on non-record, they can contact Detective Cheryl Holmes at cholmes@cumberlandcounty.org for confirmation.

Sheriff Kevin J. Royce

June 12, 2020

The ABA Retirement Funds Program is available to you as a member benefit.

The ABA Retirement Funds Program (“the Program”) was created as an American Bar Association member benefit in 1963. The size and strength of the Program’s membership means you have access to a comprehensive and affordable retirement plan no matter the size of your firm.

DISCOVER WHAT YOUR MEMBER BENEFIT CAN BRING TO YOUR FIRM:

• No out-of-pocket expenses to your firm or participating employees¹
• Appointed professional fiduciary services to minimize your risk
• Broad range of investment options to suit the needs of virtually every type of investor
• Brokerage service through TD Ameritrade²
• Tailored plan design to maximize benefits to partners and tenured staff
• Personalized, professional and objective third-party investment advice provided by Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC³

The Program has earned preferred vendor status with 42 state bar and legal associations. These relationships are not paid endorsements. They are partnerships intended to bring this important benefit to their members.

When it comes to retirement plans, we understand the legal community and can help you build a plan that meets your specific needs. Please don’t hesitate to call us for a free consultation.

Jessica Danner
Regional Vice President, Sales
ABA Retirement Funds Program
Office: 781-796-9183 
Cell: 508-954-4222

Fax: 888-988-8970

30 Braintree Hill Office Park

Braintree, MA 02184
jessica.danner@abaretirement.com

Registered Representative of Voya Financial Partners, LLC (member SIPC) 

A Different Kind of Retirement Plan

ABA Retirement Funds Program•Building On 50 Years• 1963-2013

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 All ABA Retirement Fund Program fees are allocated to each investment option (excluding brokerage accounts) and are reflected in each Fund’s expense ratio. These fees are the only costs charged to participants (or employers) for participating in the Program. There are no additional costs to the employer or out-of-pocket expenses for participants. Clients may incur additional expenses through the use of outside service providers, such as a TPA or CPA, to support their plan design or responsibilities as a plan sponsor. Participants may incur costs by opting for certain advisory services or by utilizing the self-directed brokerage account option.

2 Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Used with permission.

3 Advisory Services provided by Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC (VRA). For more information, please read the Voya Retirement Advisors Disclosure Statement, Advisory Services Agreement and your plan’s Fact Sheet. These documents may be viewed online by accessing the advisory services link(s) through the Program’s website at www.abaretirement.com after you log in to your account. You may also request these from a VRA Investment Advisor Representative by calling the Program’s Customer Service Center at 800.348.2272. Financial Engines Advisors, LLC acts as a sub-advisor for Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC. Financial Engines Advisors LLC (FEA) is a federally registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Engines, Inc. Neither VRA nor FEA provides tax or legal advice. If you need tax advice, consult your accountant or if you need legal advice consult your lawyer. Neither Voya Retirement Advisors nor Financial Engines Advisors can guarantee results and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Financial Engines, Inc. All other marks are the exclusive property of their respective owners.

The ABA Retirement Funds Program has been providing affordable retirement plans to the legal community for more than 50 years. It is organized as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation by the American Bar Association and is dedicated to providing retirement services exclusively to the legal community. It currently services nearly 3,900 law firm retirement plans and has over $5.5 billion in assets (12/31/2016).

Please read the Annual Disclosure Document (April 2017), as supplemented (July 2017), carefully before investing. This Disclosure Document contains important information about the Program and investment options. For email inquiries, contact us at: joinus@abaretirement.com. 

Registered representative of and securities offered through Voya Financial Partners, LLC (member SIPC).

Voya Financial Partners and Voya Retirement Advisors, LCC, are members of the Voya family of companies (“Voya”). Voya, the ABA Retirement Funds, Mercer Trust Company and TD Ameritrade are separate, unaffiliated entities and are not responsible for one another’s products and services. 

CN0328-32894-0419D
(05/2017)